Response by Theresa A. Gaffney to Marilyn Smith on “Enhancing Patient Safety: Factors influencing Medical Error Recovery among Medical-Surgical Nurses” by Theresa A. Gaffney and colleagues (September 30, 2016).
Ms. Smith identified 2 factors that impact nurses’ ability to recover medical errors and prevent adverse events. We postulate that extended shifts and nurse staffing negatively impact patient outcomes and have much anecdotal evidence to support these beliefs. I agree that nurses would be more likely to recover errors with adequate nurse to patient ratios, however, additional research is needed in this area.
Terri Gaffney
