Patient safety and quality of care in nursing practice.

Abstract

Patient safety and quality of care are closely linked to the organizational conditions in which nursing practice takes place, especially in the face of high patient loads, insufficient staffing, and professional burnout. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between patient safety and quality of care in nursing practice within health care services. A qualitative, documentary, non-experimental, cross-sectional study with an exploratory scope was conducted through a review and thematic analysis of scientific literature and institutional documents from Ecuador, Latin America, and other relevant contexts. The results revealed limited perceptions of a safety culture, weaknesses in staffing levels and in non-punitive responses to errors, as well as associations between higher patient workload, lower perceived quality, adverse events, omitted care, and lower patient satisfaction. Interpretation of the findings showed that safety and quality depended not only on individual performance but also on the work environment, institutional management, and the availability of human resources. It was concluded that strengthening organizational environments and staffing planning could contribute to safer, more continuous, and quality-centered nursing care.