OBJECTIVE: Verify the knowledge of the nursing team about adverse effects in patients at the surgical center, point out possible causes, identify whose is the responsibility for these causes and verify the need of notification. METHODS: Descriptive research performed by questionnaire with ten statements about causes for the occurrence of adverse effects and four settings, carried out with 31 nursing professionals from the surgical center of a private hospital. RESULTS: The most frequent causes have been routine in programming elective procedures and inefficient communication between medical and nursing teams. All settings have been identified as adverse events with a necessity to be notified. The patient's safety is not seen as a responsibility of the entire professional team. CONCLUSION: Nurses must defend the patient's interests, know the risks inherent to the surgical process and warn team members about possible problems that may come up.
Operating room nursing; Education, nursing; Nursing assessment; Patient safety; Quality of health care; Health knowledge, atitudes, practice
