References
The role of the nurse leader in facilitating effective support and communication to raise concerns
Abstract
This article examines several factors that can affect how raising of concerns can be supported. Nurse leaders play a vital role in this process to maintain patient safety and act accordingly within the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code. Considerations are provided to explore how the nurse leader can facilitate communication with all team members to influence organisational culture, where colleagues feel confident in voicing concerns. Professional responsibilities pertinent to this process are highlighted, including the nurse leader as an advocate and supporting constructive challenge.
In The Code, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) states that nurses must ‘act without delay if you believe that there is a risk to patient safety or public protection’, therefore nurse leaders and managers have a responsibility to support the reporting of concerns, in addition to acting on those concerns reported to them from their team members. Media reports continue to identify a plethora of situations and activities that are viewed as concerning for the public, NHS and the profession. Against this backdrop, it is essential that nurse leaders promote a timely and transparent approach in raising concerns, reporting errors, and encouraging a duty of candour to foster a learning culture for improvement (Royal College of Nursing (RCN), 2023).
How these concerns are communicated can affect how they are understood, shared or escalated to appropriate others, and ultimately what action is taken to address them. Despite senior NHS executive teams continuing to transform cultures away from blame to those of facilitating psychological safety to report and learn from concerns, a YouGov survey in 2020 identified that 33% of healthcare workers would be uncomfortable to some extent reporting dangerous practice, while 30% did not feel confident that issues raised would be properly handled or resolved (Ibbotsen, 2020). This article provides an overview of the influencing factors affecting support and communication strategies to raise concerns. It also provides suggestions for managers and leaders to consider when shaping organisational and team culture to promote voicing of concerns.
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