A Structural Equation Model of Nurses' Patient Safety Management Activities / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to build and test a model outlining the factors related to nurses' patient safety management activities. The exogenous variables were personal factor, job factor and organizational support. The endogenous factors were safety-related recognition, patient safety culture and patient safety management activities. METHODS: A survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among 500 nurses in Korea. The collected data were analyzed using PASW Statistics 18.0 and AMOS 20.0 programs. RESULTS: Personal factors, job factors, safety-related recognition, and patient safety culture significantly affected nurses' patient safety management activities. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patient safety accidents can be prevented by increasing the safety culture and safety related recognition. To improve the safety culture and safety related recognition, measures should be taken to reduce the turnover rate of career nurses and provide sufficient manpower allocation, education and policies.

A Study on the Subjective Musculoskeletal Symptoms Associated with Tasks of Operating Room Nurses

PURPOSE: To find the factors of subjective musculoskeletal symptoms associated with the general characteristics and tasks of operating room nurses (OR nurses) and then to use the factors as basic information for preventing and managing musculoskeletal symptoms in OR nurses. METHOD: This study was an exploratory research. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire from OR nurses working at 8 polyclinics in Korea during the period from July 26 2004 to August 19 2004. The questionnaire contains 7 questions on general characteristics and 18 questions on tasks in the operating room. RESULT: 187 (75.1%) nurses said they 'had' subjective musculoskeletal symptoms. Statistically significant differences were observed according to clinical career, career as an OR nurse, skillfulness, satisfaction with tasks in the operating room, perception on suitable treatment, care of symptoms by the hospital. weight of hospital linen and weight of a basic operation set (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal symptoms complained of by OR nurses were significant. This may cause difficulties in nursing tasks in the operating room. Thus, various arrangements should be made for OR nurse with subjective musculoskeletal symptoms at the early stage.