Doody's Review Service

Reviewer:	Linda Morrow, DNP, MSN, MBA (Sacred Heart University)

Description
The book explores the critical role that nurses play in ensuring patient safety. It provides insights into how nurses can lead safety initiatives, prevent errors, and improve care outcomes by implementing evidence-based practices. The book covers key topics such as safety culture, system-level thinking, risk assessment, and quality improvement tools. It features practical tools and resources like algorithms, bulleted lists, and case studies, which help to illustrate key points and provide actionable strategies. It also includes safety-related frameworks that guide nurses in integrating safety practices into everyday clinical work.

Purpose
The purpose of this book is to empower nurses to take an active leadership role in improving patient safety. It aims to bridge the gap between nursing practice and patient safety by offering practical strategies, evidence-based interventions, and tools to reduce errors, mitigate risks, and promote a culture of safety in healthcare settings. The book also emphasizes the importance of system-level thinking and quality improvement initiatives, positioning nurses as key players in driving positive patient outcomes. These are worthy objectives, and the book is highly relevant and needed in today's healthcare landscape. Nurses are on the front lines of patient care, and their direct involvement in safety initiatives is crucial to improving patient outcomes. The focus on empowering nurses to take leadership roles in patient safety is essential, especially as healthcare systems face increasing complexity, technological advancements, and challenges in delivering safe, high-quality care. The book addresses a significant gap by providing practical tools and evidence-based strategies that nurses can use to implement safety measures and lead quality improvement efforts. Furthermore, with the growing emphasis on a culture of safety in health care, this resource is valuable for both nursing education and practice, making it a necessary addition to the literature on patient safety and nursing leadership. The book meets its objectives by offering a comprehensive guide that equips nurses with the tools, knowledge, and strategies necessary to improve patient safety including practical strategies, evidence-based interventions, system-level thinking, and tools for quality improvement.

Audience
This book's primary audience is nurses involved in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety roles. It is highly relevant for nurses working in areas like clinical practice, healthcare administration, and nursing education. The book targets nurse leaders and managers, quality and safety specialists, advanced practice nurses, hospital and healthcare administrators, and nurse educators. It is also useful for nurses pursuing certification in quality and safety, as well as healthcare professionals looking to enhance their understanding of safety practices in clinical settings. Overall, the content contained in the book is well-tailored to the needs of the nursing profession making it both practical and applicable to its intended audience. The editors are credible authorities on nursing and patient safety. Their expertise is well-established based on their credentials and professional contributions.

Features
The book explores how nurses can lead and improve patient safety within healthcare systems. It emphasizes creating and sustaining a culture of safety, focusing on risk assessment, system-level thinking, and the prevention of errors. The book also highlights the importance of leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and overcoming barriers to safety efforts. It equips nurses with the tools to take an active role in safety initiatives, reduce harm, and promote high-quality care. The best aspects of the book are its comprehensive approach to patient safety and its practical focus on nursing leadership. The book excels in covering risk assessment, quality improvement, and system-level thinking. The authors present complex safety concepts in a way that is accessible and easy to understand, making the material suitable for nurses at all levels. The writing is clear and organized, with logical progression from foundational safety principles to more advanced leadership topics. Each chapter builds on the previous one, making it easy for readers to follow the content. Innovative features, such as case studies, algorithms, and checklists, engage readers by illustrating how theory translates into practice. These practical tools allow nurses to immediately apply what they learn, which is a significant strength of the book. While the book offers a strong overview of nursing and patient safety, it could potentially delve more deeply into emerging technologies and how they intersect with safety practices, such as artificial intelligence in error prevention. The book could expand the discussion on overcoming institutional barriers to safety initiatives, providing more examples of successful change management in different healthcare environments. Nonetheless, these gaps are minor, and the book remains a valuable resource for anyone focused on improving patient safety through nursing leadership.

Assessment
The book is well-structured, with a logical flow that guides readers through the complexities of patient safety in nursing. The authors' expertise in the field adds credibility, and their insights into safety culture and risk management are particularly relevant in today's healthcare landscape. This book provides actionable strategies and tools to implement effective patient safety measures. The content is relevant for those looking to lead safety initiatives or integrate evidence-based practices into their clinical settings. Nursing students and educators will also find it beneficial, as it aligns well with current educational imperatives surrounding patient safety and quality of care. When compared to other books in the field, this book holds its own, particularly in its focus on the nursing perspective within patient safety. For example, *Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses, Hughes (AHRQ Publication, 2008) covers patient safety from multiple healthcare perspectives and offers evidence-based strategies, but the reviewed book focuses on nursing practices, making it more specialized for nursing professionals. The landmark report To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System* Kohn et al. (National Academies Press, 2000) emphasizes systemic changes needed in healthcare to improve safety. While it provides foundational knowledge on patient safety, this book offers practical tools tailored to nursing practice, filling a crucial gap in application. Overall, this book is a high-quality, practical resource that serves its intended audience well. Its focus on nursing, combined with practical applications and a user-friendly structure, makes it an essential addition to the literature on patient safety in nursing. It effectively complements other key titles in the field, providing a unique perspective that emphasizes the pivotal role of nurses in promoting patient safety.