Student nurses' lived experience of patient safety and raising concerns

Summary

Following the investigation into the Mid Staffordshire Hospital (United Kingdom) and the subsequent Francis reports (2013 and 2015), all healthcare staff, including students, are called upon to raise concerns if they are concerned about patient safety. Despite this advice, it is evident that some individuals are reluctant to do so and the reasons for this are not always well understood. This research study from Fisher and Kiernan, published in Nurse Education Today,  provides an insight into the factors that influence student nurses to speak up or remain silent when witnessing sub-optimal care.

Content

Four key themes were identified in the study:

• context of exposure
• fear of punitive action
• team culture
• hierarchy.

On the one hand, students recognised there was a professional obligation bestowed upon them to raise concerns if they witnessed sub-optimal practice; however, their willingness to do so was influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Students have to navigate their moral compass, taking cognisance of their own social identity and the identity of the organisations in which they are placed.