Perception of nursing professionals on the use of surgical safety checklist

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate nursing team knowledge about the applicability and importance of the Safe Surgical Program and the use of the Surgical Safety Checklist. It is a descriptive and quantitative study carried out in the surgical center of a public university hospital involving a population of 34 professionals, whose data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. Twenty-six nursing assistants and two nurses participated in the study. The study highlighted positive aspects as for the knowledge and credibility granted by professionals as to the Surgical Safety Checklist use as a tool. The professionals also referred to the difficulties arising from the use of such Checklist, as the absence of verbal communication among the team concerning the patient and available time for the checking of the instruments before the surgery. The results allowed to highlighting, analyzing and discussing the gaps still permeating the process of adherence to the Checklist in the surgical center routine. It is necessary to plan and implement systems that contribute to the Checklist adoption as a tool for the safety of the surgical patient.