Table 2 The 42 items scores

A1 People support one another in this unit

Strength

A2 We have enough staff to handle the workload

Needs improvement

A3 When a lot of work needs to be done quickly, we work together as a team to get the work done

Strength

A4 In this unit, we treat each other with respect

Strength

A5 Staff in this unit work longer hours than is best for patient care

Needs improvement

A6 We are actively doing things to improve patient safety

Strength

A7 We use more temporary staff than is best for patient care

A8 Staff feel that their mistakes are held against them

Needs improvement

A9 Mistakes have led to positive changes here

A10 It is just by chance that more serious mistakes don’t happen around here

A11 When one area in this unit gets easily busy, others help out

A12 When an event is reported, it feels like the person is being written up, not the problem

Needs improvement

A13 After we made changes to improve patient safety, we evaluate their effectiveness

A14 We work in ‘crisis mode’ trying to do too much, too quickly

Needs improvement

A15 Patient safety is never sacrificed to get more work done

A16Staff worry that mistakes they make are kept in their personnel file

Needs improvement

A17 We have patient safety problems in this unit

Needs improvement

A18 Our procedures and systems are good at preventing errors from happening

B1 My supervisor says a good word when he/she sees a job done according to established pattern safety procedures

B2 My supervisor seriously considers staff suggestions for improving patient safety

B3 Whenever pressure builds up, my supervisor wants us to work faster even if it means taking shortcuts

Needs improvement

B4 My supervisor overlooks patient safety problems that happen over and over

Strength

C1 We are given feedback about changes put into place based on event reports

Needs improvement

C2 Staff will freely speak up if they see something that may negatively affect patient care

Needs improvement

C3 We are informed about errors that happen in this unit

Needs improvement

C4 Staff feel free to question the decisions or actions of those with some authority

Needs improvement

C5 In this unit, we discuss ways to prevent errors from happening

C6 Staff are afraid to ask questions when something does not seem right

Needs improvement

D1 When a mistake is made but is caught and corrected before affecting the patient, how often is this reported?

Needs improvement

D2 When a mistake is made but has no potential to harm the patient, how often is this reported?

Needs improvement

D3 When a mistake is made, that could harm the patient but does not, how often is this reported?

Needs improvement

F1 Hospital management provides a work climate that promotes patient safety

Needs improvement

F2 Hospital units do not coordinate well with each other

Needs improvement

F3 Things escape attention when transferring patients from one unit to another

Needs improvement

F4 There is poor cooperation among hospital units that need to work together

F5 Important patient care information is often lost during shift changes

F6 It is often unpleasant to work with staff from other hospital units

F7 Problems often occur in the exchange of information across hospital units

Needs improvement

F8The actions of hospital management show that patient safety is top priority

F9 Hospital management seems interested in patient safety only after an adverse event happens

Needs improvement

F10 Hospital units work well together to provide the best care for patients

F11 Shift changes are problematic for patients in the hospital