Wellness programs help avert stress-related care errors

Critical care nurses’ physical and mental health are linked to preventable medical errors and to workplace supports, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Critical Care. “Critical care nurses whose well-being is supported by their organizations are more likely to be fully engaged in patient care and make fewer medical errors, resulting in better patient outcomes and more lives saved,” the study’s authors wrote. They concluded, “Hospital leaders and health care systems need to prioritize the health of their nurses by resolving system issues, building wellness cultures, and providing evidence-based wellness support and programming.” The study’s findings were based on a random sample of 771 members of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (Newswise news release, 5/2/21)