Patient safety culture: perception of nursing professionals in high complexity institutions

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the perception of nursing professionals about patient safety culture in three highly complex hospital institutions. Methods: descriptive and quantitative study with professionals working in care. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire was applied, classifying its dimensions according to the percentage of positive responses (strengthened: ≥75.0%; potential for improvement: <75.0% to> 50.0%; weakened: ≤50.0%). Results: four hundred sixty-seven professionals (79.6%), mostly women (88.4%), nursing technicians/assistants (57.2%), 20 to 39 years (60.8%), less than five years in the institution (57.8%) and exclusive bond (79.2%) participated in the study. Safety culture was considered fragile, seven dimensions assessed as such, highlighting “Openness to communication” and “Non-punitive responses to errors” with <30.0% positive responses. Conclusions: evidence of the need for discussion of the subject and strategies for change that promote quality and safety of care.