Hospital Based Nursing Safety Resources

Click here to download a pdf version of this resource, containing nine (9) pages of resources divided into the following six categories: 

• Culture of Safety; Safety Resources
• Ergonomic Hazards and Safe Patient Handling Resources
• Hospital Resources
• Infection Control Resources
• Illness and Injury Data and Resources
• Workplace Violence Prevention

NOTE: Resources highlighted in yellow on the pdf are not open access - requires a subscription or access from an academic institution. 

Culture of Safety and Safety Resources

• A Research Agenda for Advancing Patient, Worker and Environmental Health and Safety in the Health Care Sector, October 2009. Health Care without Harm, Global Health & Safety Initiatives and UIC School of Public Health. https://noharm.org/sites/default/files/lib/downloads/other/Research_Agenda_Health_Safety.pdf   
   
• Culture of Safety, 2017 Update. Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET). American Hospital Association. This file is not open access. http://www.hret-hiin.org/Resources/culture_safety/17/culture-of-safety-change-package.pdf
   
• Culture of Safety. Change Package: Fostering a Culture that Fully Integrates Patient and Worker Safety. 2016 Update. American Hospital Association. http://www.mtpinnacle.com/pdfs/HRETHEN_ChangePackage_CultureofSafety.pdf
   
• DeJoy, D. (2005) Behavior Change versus Culture Change: Divergent Approaches to Managing Safety. Safety Science- SAF SCI. 43.105-129.10.1016/j.ssci.2005.02.001. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245130454_Behavior_change_versus_culture_change_Divergent_approaches_to_managing_workplace_safety
   
• Guidelines for a Culture of Safety Survey. The Leapfrog Group. 2017. For the purposes of reporting on Safe Practice 2 Culture Measurement, Feedback, and Intervention, hospitals must conduct a culture of safety survey of their employees. http://www.leapfroggroup.org/sites/default/files/Files/Guidelines_CultureSurvey_20170401_0_0.pdf
   
• Hughes, RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Base Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare and Quality (US); 2008 Apr. Chapter 39 Personal Safety for Nurses. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2661/
   
• The Lack of Diversity in Advanced Nursing. 2021. https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/resources/diversity-in-advanced-nursing/
   
• Leading a Culture of Safety: A Blueprint for Success. The American College of Healthcare Executives and the NPSF (National Patient Safety Foundation) Lucian Leape Institute. 2017. https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/Leading_a_Culture_of_Safety-A_Blueprint_for_Success.pdf
   
• Lotfi, Z et al. (2018) Relationship between Ethical Leadership and Organizational Commitment of Nurses with Perception of patient Safety Culture. J Nurs Manag. 2018;00: 1-9. This article is not open access. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jonm.12607
   
• Nieva, V.F., Sorra, J. Safety culture assessment: a tool for improving patient safety in healthcare organizations. Qual Saf Health Care 2003;12(Suppl II):ii17–ii23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1765782/pdf/v012p0ii17.pdf
   
• Organizational Safety Culture - Linking patient and worker safety. OSHA Safety and Health Topics. Healthcare. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthcarefacilities/safetyculture.html
   
• Peterson, K., Rogers, B. M. E., Brosseau, L. M., et al. Differences in Hospital Mangers’, Unit Managers’, and Health Care Workers’ Perceptions of the Safety Climate for Respiratory Protection. April 7, 2016. Workplace Health and Safety Journal. Article that compares perceptions pf the respiratory protection safety climate in acute care hospital in six states. This article is not open access. http://whs.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/04/07/2165079916640550.full
   
• Pronovost, P, and Sexton, B. Assessing Safety Culture: Guidelines and Recommendations. Qual Saf Health Care 2005;14:231–233. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1744052/pdf/v014p00231.pdf
   
• Safety and Health Management Systems and Joint Commission Standards: A Comparison. OSHA. Provide comparisons according to the six core elements of a safety and health management system: management leadership, employee participation, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training, and annual evaluation. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.2_SHMS-JCAHO_comparison_508.pdf
   
• Safety Attitudes: Frontline Perspective from this Patient Care Area. 2004. The University of Texas at Austin. Printable questionnaire for frontline healthcare workers. https://med.uth.edu/chqs/files/2018/05/SAQ-Short-Form-2006.pdf
   
• Sexton, Bryan J. et al. The associations between work–life balance behaviours, teamwork climate and safety climate: cross-sectional survey introducing the work–life climate scale, psychometric properties, benchmarking data and future directions. BMJ Qual Saf. 2016 Dec 22. Article from BMJ Quality and Safety – online. This article is not open access. http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/early/2016/12/22/bmjqs-2016-006032
   
• Taylor, JA, et al. (2011) Do Nurse and Patient Injuries Share Common Antecedents? An Analysis of Associations with Safety Climate and Working Conditions. BMJ Qual Saf published online October 19, 2011. Doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2011-000082. Article from BMJ Quality and Safety – online. This article is not open access. http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/qhc/21/2/101.full.pdf
   
• The Essential Role of Leadership in Developing a Safety Culture. The Joint Commission. Sentinel Event Alert Issue 57, March 1, 2017. https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/SEA_57_Safety_Culture_Leadership_0317.pdf
   
• Through the Eyes of the Workforce: Creating Joy, Meaning, and Safer Healthcare. 2013. Lucian Leape Institute, report of the roundtable on joy and meaning in work and workforce safety. http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.npsf.org/resource/resmgr/LLI/Through-Eyes-of-the-Workforc.pdf
   
• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). OSHA Fact sheet. 2009. https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-vpp.pdf
   
• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). OSHA webpage and resources. https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/

Ergonomic Hazards and Safe Patient Handling Resources

• A Back Injury Prevention Guide for Health Care Providers. 1997. Cal OSHA. Printable guide to help prevent back injuries from lifting and moving patients. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/backinj.pdf
   
• Handle with Care. American Nurses Association Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Self-Assessment Resources. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/handle-with-care/
   
• Massachusetts Nurses Association – Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Toolkit. 2021. Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Task Force Findings and Recommendations. https://www.massnurses.org/files/file/SPH-Toolkit.pdf
   
• Nagan, K et al. Risks and causes of musculoskeletal injuries among healthcare workers. Occupational Medicine, Volume 60, Issue 5, 1 August 2010. Pages 389-394. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq052
   
• Need a Lift? Just Ask! OSHA. Printable poster to inform patients about mechanical lifting equipment in use at a facility. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.3_Just-ask_poster_508.pdf
   
• Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM). CDC / NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics. Numerous resources for patient handling hazards and ergonomics. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/safepatient/default.html
   
• Safe Patient Handling Program Checklist. OSHA. Printable safe patient handling program evaluation checklist. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.2_SPH_checklist_508.pdf
   
• Safe Patient Handling Programs- Effectiveness and Cost Savings. OSHA. Caring for our caregivers. Printable fact sheet. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.5_SPH_effectiveness_508.pdf
   
• Safe Patient Handling. OSHA Safety and Health Topics – Healthcare. Hazards and solutions, training, State legislation and additional resources. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthcarefacilities/safepatienthandling.html
   
• Safe Patient Handling. OSHA Safety and Health Topics – Healthcare. Learn from the Leaders. OSHA fact sheet. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.6_SPH_profiles_508.pdf
   
• Safe Patient Handling: A Self- Assessment. OSHA. Printable self-assessment tool. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.8_SPH_self-assessment_508.pdf
   
• Safe Patient Handling: Busting the Myths. OSHA. Caring for our caregivers. Printable fact sheet on patient handling myths vs fact. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/3.1_Mythbusters_508.pdf
   
• Sexton JB, Helmreich RL, Neilands TB, Rowan K, Vella K, Boyden J, Roberts PR, Thomas EJ. (2006) The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties, Benchmarking Data, and Emerging Research. BMC Health Services Research 2006; 6:44. Article related to the University of Texas Safety Attitudes Questionnaire. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6963-6-44
   
• Waters, TR et al. Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation. US Department of Health and Human Services, PHS/CDC/NIOSH. Jan 1994. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94-110/pdfs/94-110.pdf

Hospital Resources

• Building a Patient and Employee Safety HRO (high reliability organization) Program. Webinar recording from October 20, 2016. Health Forum, an American Hospital Association Company. Presentation by Tom Peterson, MD, FAAP. http://www.healthforum.com/connect/events/746000387
   
• Caring for our Caregivers - Facts about Hospital Worker Safety. OSHA printable booklet. September 2013. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/1.2_Factbook_508.pdf
   
• Caring for Our Caregivers - Safety and Health Management Systems: A Road Map for Hospitals. Integrating Patient and Workplace Safety Programs. OSHA printable fact sheet. September 2013. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.1_SHMS_integration_508.pdf
   
• Caring for Our Caregivers - Safety and Health Management Systems: A Road Map for Hospitals. Safety and Health Management Systems and Joint Commission Standards – a Comparison. OSHA printable fact sheet. September 2013. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.2_SHMS-JCAHO_comparison_508.pdf
   
• Caring for Our Caregivers - Safety and Health Management Systems: A Road Map for Hospitals. OSHA printable booklet. September 2013. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.4_SHMS_roadmap_508.pdf
   
• Gorman, T, et al. Controlling Hazards to Hospital Workers: A Reference Guide. NEW SOLUTIONS, Vol. 23 (Suppl)1-167, 2013. A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2190/NS.23.Suppl
   
• Hospital Improvement Innovation Network. American Hospital Association. Webpage contains culture of safety resources. http://www.hret-hiin.org/
   
• Hospital Respiratory Protection Toolkit. Resources for Respirator Program Administrators. 2015. OSHA. Printable booklet. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3767.pdf
   
• Hospital Safety and Health Management System Self- Assessment Questionnaire. 2014. OSHA. Excel spreadsheet able to tally responses to safety questions. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.3_assessment_tool.xlsx
   
• Hospitals Fail to Protect Nursing Staff from Becoming Patients. All Things Considered – NPR. Transcript and Recording. February 4, 2015. http://www.npr.org/2015/02/04/382639199/hospitals-fail-to-protect-nursing-staff-from-becoming-patients
   
• Hospitals say efforts improving to prevent nurses’ injuries. Article St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Michele Munz. August 30, 2015. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/hospitals-say-efforts-improving-to-prevent-nurses-injuries/article_5d11886b-7601-5a25-9c57-6b88d95489b6.html
   
• How Safe Is Your Hospital for Workers? A Self-Assessment. OSHA. 9/2013. A printable self-assessment tool to calculate your TCIR and DART rates. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/1.3_Self-assessment_508.pdf
   
• Improving Patient and Worker Safety: Opportunities for Synergy, Collaboration and Innovation, The Joint Commission, 2012. Printable book on the relationship between patient and worker safety. https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/TJC-ImprovingPatientAndWorkerSafety-Monograph.pdf
   
• Integrating Patient and Workplace Safety Programs: Lessons from High-Performing Hospitals. OSHA printable fact sheet. September 2013. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.1_SHMS_integration_508.pdf
   
• McDiarmid, MA. Hazards of the Health Care Sector: Looking Beyond Infectious Disease. Annals of Global Health 2014 4;80:315-319. https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/abstract/10.29024/j.aogh.2014.08.001
   
• The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Integrating Patient and Workplace Safety Programs. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/2.1_SHMS_integration_508.pdf
   
• Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluation a Sharps Injury Prevention Program. 2008. CDC. Printable workbook to help healthcare facilities prevent needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries to healthcare personnel. https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpsworkbook_2008.pdf
   
• Worker Safety in Hospitals: Caring for Our Caregivers. Program Evaluation. OSHA. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/program_evaluation.html
   
• Worker Safety in Hospitals: Caring for our Caregivers. Safety and Health Management Systems. OSHA resource page. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/mgmt_tools_resources.html
   
• Worker Safety in Hospitals: Caring for our Caregivers. Understanding the Problem. OSHA resource page. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/understanding_problem.html
   
• Worker Safety in Your Hospital - Know the Facts. OSHA printable fact sheet 3689. 09/2013. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/documents/1.1_Data_highlights_508.pdf

Infection Control Resources

• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Homepage and online resources. https://apic.org/
   
• Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities. Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Updated Feb 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/environmental-guidelines.pdf
   
• Infection Control. CDC. Homepage and resources. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/index.html
   
• Infection Prevention and Control – Understanding the chain of infection. Poster. 2017. Emergency Nurses Association. https://www.nursingworld.org/~4af4cd/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/work-environment/health--safety/infectionpreventioncontrol-infographic.pdf
   
• Infectious Diseases Rulemaking. OSHA webpage and resources. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/id/index.html 
   
• International Safety Center: https://internationalsafetycenter.org . The Center is a woman-led, nonprofit research and advocacy organization. They conduct epidemiological research, surveillance, and outreach to measure and prevent sharps injuries, needlesticks, blood, and body fluid exposures. Their work has informed the data-driven interventions, controls, and programs that protect those working in healthcare.

  • Implement EPINET® at Your Healthcare Facility: https://internationalsafetycenter.org/use-epinet/

  • Download EPINET® Resources: https://internationalsafetycenter.org/use-epinet/#forms 

  • EPINET Report: https://internationalsafetycenter.org/exposure-reports/

• Nursing Infection Control Education Network (NICE). Homepage of National Association of School Nurses in partnership with the American Nurses Association and the CDC, training for nurses in infection control. https://www.nasn.org/nasn/programs/educational-initiatives/nice

Illness and Injury Data and Resources

• 2016 Survey of Occupational injuries & Illnesses: Charts Package. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. November 9, 2017. Description of injury and illness data for 2016 – all industries. https://www.bls.gov/iif/osch0060.pdf
   
• Dressner, MA. “Hospital workers: an assessment of occupational injuries and illnesses”. Monthly Labor Review. June 2017. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2017/article/pdf/hospital-workers-an-assessment-of-occupational-injuries-and-illnesses.pdf
   
• Encyclopedia of Measures (EOM). Improve Quality and Patient Safety at your Hospital and Impact National Health Outcomes. Version 1.3. Hospital Improvement Innovation Network. 2017. Data on harm events related to patient handling and workplace violence found on pgs. 31-32. http://www.hret-hiin.org/Resources/data/16/encyclopedia_of_measures.pdf
   
• Hoskins, A. B. Occupational Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities among Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides, 1995-2004. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/cwc/occupational-injuries-illnesses-and-fatalities-among-nursing-psychiatric-and-home-health-aides-1995-2004.pdf
   
• Occupational Traumatic Injuries Among Workers in Health Care Facilities — United States, 2012–2014. MMWR. April 24, 2015/ 64(15):405-410. CDC. Injury data specific to healthcare workers. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6415a2.htm

Workplace Violence Prevention

• Babaei, N. et al. (20180) Determine and Compare the Viewpoints of Nurses, Patients and their Relatives to Workplace Violence Against Nurses. J Nurs Manag. 2018;00:1-8. A study to assess the perception of nurses, patients and their relatives regarding the nature of workplace violence against nurses. Article is not open access. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12583
   
• Occupational Violence. NIOSH. Includes link to Online Workplace Violence Prevention Course for Nurses. 2013. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/violence/default.html
   
• OSHA – Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers. 2016. Printable booklet with OSHA recommendations for the prevention of workplace violence. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf
   
• Safety and Health Topics. Workplace Violence. Training and other resources. OSHA. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/otherresources.html
   
• Toolkit for Mitigating Violence in the Workplace. American Organization of Nurse Executives and Emergency Nurses Association. 2015. Printable toolkit to provide a framework to systematically reduce lateral, and patient and family violence in hospital settings. http://www.aone.org/resources/final_toolkit.pdf
   
• Whitman, E. Quelling a storm of violence in healthcare settings. Despite unanimous agreement that healthcare workers need to be protected from violence at work, there's little consensus over how to address the problem. Modern Healthcare. March 11, 2017. http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article20170311/MAGAZINE/303119990
   
• Workplace Violence. 2017. American Nurses Association. Website with resources. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/state/workplace-violence2/