Gestão de enfermeiras na aplicação do conhecimento para a segurança do paciente

Abstract

The general objective of this research is to learn about the management strategies that nurse managers employ to apply knowledge towards patient safety. This is a qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study carried out with 10 nurses who manage intensive care units in two public teaching hospitals in northeastern Brazil. The inclusion criteria specified that participants must be nurses holding management positions in an intensive care unit, and the exclusion criteria included being on vacation or leave and declining to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were carried out from July to September 2023 using an adapted and tested semi-structured instrument. After filling out the free and informed consent form, data collection took place on dates and at places chosen by the participants, conducted by the researcher and a duly trained nursing student from the last semester of her undergraduate course. The data was analyzed according to Bardin's content analysis method, which comprises the following steps: pre-analysis, material exploration, and results processing. The study received approval under Report No. 5.168.134, adhering to all ethical research principles. After analysis, three categories and their respective subcategories emerged. Category I – They raise awareness among the team's professionals to apply knowledge – has two subcategories: They value the personal, professional and teamwork aspects; and They promote welcoming and commitment among professionals. Category II – They use intra- and extra-organizational resources to train professionals – is divided in two subcategories: They identify the team's individual and collective training needs; and They use diversified pedagogical strategies to train professionals and to train themselves. Category III – They enable conditions for the application of knowledge in the team's work practices – encompass three subcategories: They use normative and technical-scientific instruments in care practice; They monitor the team in the use of new knowledge; and They share knowledge in care practices. It is concluded that nurse managers coordinate the application of knowledge towards patient safety through awareness-raising strategies, in-service training and continuous monitoring of the team's work processes. These strategies have been fostering a learning conducive environment, sparking innovation, and realizing organizational objectives by facilitating the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge. Nevertheless, there was no evidence of their intentionality or perception that these strategies are pertinent to an organizational knowledge management process. It is therefore essential to provide managers with a greater understanding of the importance of leading the team to transform individual knowledge into collective action using strategic planning. When applied systematically, such planning is able to promote patient safety, improvements in the development of services, and both professional and organizational growth.