ABSTRACT
Objective:
propose steps for patient safety based on the analysis of risks in mobile emergency care from nurses’ perspective.
Method:
quantitative and descriptive study. Intentional sample consisting of 23 nurses. The photographic research method was used to identify the risks for patient safety in a Mobile Emergency Care Service in a city in Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil). The data were collected between March and June 2012 and organized in five phases: collection of pictures from safe and non-safe situations; selection of pictures based on the image quality; selection of pictures by experts on the theme; random selection of ten images; and application of picture analysis tool by the professionals. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were used.
Results:
the risks appointed in the study were: difficulties to store equipment and material; particularities of work in mobile emergency care; risk of infection; risk of traumas; and medication administration difficulties. Based on this information and confrontations with the literature, ten steps were suggested towards patient safety in emergency care, focused on the needs to reduce the risks presented.
Conclusion:
the risk analysis and the intervention proposal towards patient safety favor the quality of health care, with benefits in the following spheres: patient, team, equipment, professional and environment. These should be developed in accordance with the needs of each service.
DESCRIPTORS:
Patient safety; Quality of health care; Risk management; Prehospital care; Emergency medical services; Photography
