Not-So-Easy A: Study Finds Great Variability in Culture of Safety across U.S. Hospital Pediatric Settings

About 60% of registered pediatric nurses surveyed gave their hospital less than an excellent grade on patient safety, according to a study published in the December 28, 2018, issue of Journal of Patient Safety. The authors analyzed the 2015–2016 survey data of 1,875 pediatric registered nurses from 177 hospitals, including pediatric care general hospitals and freestanding children's hospitals, in four U.S. states. Nurses were asked to provide an overall grade on patient safety in their current practice setting, ranging from A (excellent) to F (failing). Ratings of B, C, D, and F were classified by researchers as being "less than excellent," and ratings of C, D, and F were further classified as being "poor."