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. 2020 Mar;50(3):152-158.
doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000859.

Cracking the Code for Quality: The Interrelationships of Culture, Nurse Demographics, Advocacy, and Patient Outcomes

Margaret Hardt DiCuccio  1 , Alison M Colbert, Pamela Klauer Triolo, James B Schreiber, Bonnie Dean
Affiliations

Cracking the Code for Quality: The Interrelationships of Culture, Nurse Demographics, Advocacy, and Patient Outcomes

Margaret Hardt DiCuccio et al. J Nurs Adm. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the complex relationships among patient safety culture, nurse demographics, advocacy, and patient outcomes.

Background: Why has healthcare lagged behind other industries in improving quality? Little nursing research exists that explores the multifactorial relationships that impact quality.

Methods: A convenience sample of 1045 nurses from 40 medical/surgical units was analyzed using a correlational cross-sectional design with secondary data analysis. Data sources included survey results for patient safety culture, nurse perceptions of patient advocacy, and patient experience and fall and pressure ulcer rates.

Results: Significant findings included a positive correlation between patient safety culture and advocacy and a negative correlation between safety culture, advocacy, and years of experience as a nurse. No significant correlations were found between safety culture and patient outcomes or advocacy and patient outcomes.

Conclusions: Newer nurses were more positive about safety culture and advocacy, whereas experienced nurses were overall less positive.

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