Patient Safety

According to Burns article (2009), more than 7000 inpatient deaths have occurred annually as a result of medication errors. Patient safety is the core value of the nursing profession, while nursing is being embraced by its caring attitude toward the patient, safety should be our number one priority. This research article is very important to the nursing profession, in part because it addresses one of the most significant issues of the profession, which is patient safety. According to the Nurse’s Practice environment article, Flynn, Liang, Dickson, Xie, & Suh (2012) RNs are well positioned to serve as patient safety net. (p.180)
As noted in the article, there are many factors that can increase the probabilities of medication errors; nurses practice
Burns research article (2009) has given us nurses the greatest motive to be consistent with the principle of patient safety in our work place, doing so can save lives. However, patient safety is just a portion of the benefits that has been offered by this Burns (2009) research article.
Based on substantial evidences provided in the research study by Burns. We, as RNs must also be an advocate for the application of these principles; we must encourage our administrative personnel to accept the recommendations of the study for the promotion of good health practice in all levels of the health care profession. When we apply these principles as noted in Burns article (2009) we can help reduce costs as well as decreasing the probability of medical errors. Medical errors are costly to patient financially as well as emotionally, it can extend hospital stay, increase complication thus increase the duration of the patient recovery. It can be costly to managements, as they have to devote more time, money and other resources for treatment as an effort to treat the patient and solve the medical problem that could been