Brazilian registered nurses' perceptions and attitudes towards adverse events in nursing care: a phenomenological study.

Aim: To describe the perceptions and attitudes of registered nurses (RNs) towards adverse events (AEs) in nursing care.

Background: The professionals' subjective perspectives should be taken into account for the prevention of AEs in care settings.

Method: Schütz's social phenomenology was developed. Interviews were conducted with nine Intensive Care Unit RNs.

Results: The following five descriptive categories emerged: (1) the occurrence of AEs is inherent to the human condition but provokes a feeling of insecurity, (2) the occurrence of AEs indicates the existence of failures in health care systematization, (3) the professionals' attitudes towards AEs should be permeated by ethical principles; (4) the priority regarding AEs should be the mitigation of harm to patients, and (5) decisions regarding the communication of AEs were determined by the severity of the error.

Conclusions: The various subjective perspectives related to the occurrence of AEs requires a health care systematization with a focus on prevention. Ethical behaviour is essential for the patients' safety.

Implications For Nursing Management: Activities aimed at the prevention of AEs should be integrated jointly with both the professionals and the health care institution. A culture of safety, not punishment, and improvement in the quality of care provided to patients should be priorities.