Manifestations of High-Reliability Principles on Hospital Units With Varying Safety Profiles: A Qualitative Analysis.

Background: To prevent patient harm, health care organizations are adopting practices from other complex work environments known as high-reliability organizations (HRO).

Purpose: The purpose was to explore differences in manifestations of HRO principles on hospital units with high and low safety performance.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted on units scoring high or low on safety measures.

Examining Variation in Mental Models of Influence and Leadership Among Nursing Leaders and Direct Care Nurses.

This study explored similarities and differences in the views on team membership and leadership held by nurses in formal unit leadership positions and direct care nurses. We used a mixed-methods approach and a maximum variance sampling strategy, sampling from units with both high and low safety behaviors and safety culture scores. We identified several key differences in mental models of care team membership and leadership between formal leaders and direct care nurses that warrant further exploration.