[Observational study on interruptions during nurses work in two surgical wards of a hospital in Liguria].

Introduction: Interrumption that occur during nursing practice are hazardous for patient safety, resulting in a heavy cognitive load for the health care professionals and increases the risk of making mistakes.

Methods: An observational study was carried out in UU.OO operation of Neurosurgery and Vascular Surgery at a hospital in Liguria. The observation lasted one months, from July 1st, 2012 to August 1st, 2012. For data collection were used three form, one for each work shift, in which each health care professional had to report what activity was interrupted and why.

Results: A total of 7744 interruptium (in 5676 in Neurosurgery and 2068 Vascular Surgery). The major source of interruption was the bell, followed by the phone and relatives' questions. In general, activities interrupted were mainly made beds / hygiene care, administration and preparation of medication, handover and completion of the nursing documentation

Conclusions: Interrumption will be an inevitable part of nursing practice, because of its very nature. It is therefore necessary to intervene on interruptions deemed avoidable and organizational variables that generate them, in order to increase patient safety and improve care activities.