4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur)

NU3E02 Human Factors in Healthcare (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Recognise the human factors operating in the healthcare environment.
  
• Discuss the influence of these factors on performance in a healthcare environment.
  
• Understand the relationship between error prevention and patient safety
  
• Understand the role of various systems and factors in creating safety and in preventing errors and adverse events
  
• Discuss problems and issues in measuring and reporting safety

Module Learning Aims

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the concept of human factors and how
human factors can impact on healthcare environments.

• Introduction to human factors & patient safety
  
• Organisational culture
  
• Communication for patient safety
  
• Crisis management
  
• Problem solving
  
• Decision making
  
• Error prevention
  
• Safety in the organisation
  
• Human cognition and reliability
  
• Situational awareness
  
• Human motivation
  
• Patient stories & safety
  
• Ergonomics in the healthcare environments

Recommended Reading List

• Brady A-M. & Doyle, B. Carrigey, A. (2010) Quality Improvement in Health Care In: Leadership & Management in Healthcare Ed; AM Brady Mc Milan: Dublin
  
• Berne E. (1964) Games People Play. Grove Press, New York.
  
• Department of Health & Children (2007) Building a Culture of Patient Safety – Report of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance Stationary Office: Dublin
  
• Habbel R.W. (2002) The Human Factor: Management Culture in a Changing World. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke
  
• Harris T. (1973) I’m OK, you’re OK. Pan, New York.
  
• HSE (2015) Building a high quality health service for a healthier Ireland HSE Corporate Plan 2015-17

Articles

• Brady A.M., Redmond R., Curtis E., Fleming S., Keenan P., Malone A.M., Sheerin F. (2009) Adverse events in healthcare: a literature review Journal of Nursing Management 17, 155-164.
  
• Brady AM., Malone AM., Flemming S. (2009) Literature review of the individual and systems factors that contribute to medication errors in nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Management 17, 679-697.
  
• Moore L., McAuliffe E. (2010) Is inadequate response to whistleblowing perpetuating a culture of silence in hospitals? Clinical Guidance: An International Journal 15 (3), 166-178.
  
• Leonard M., Graham S., Bonacum D. (2004) The human factor: the critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing safe care. Quality and Safety in Health Care 13, 85-90.
  
• Donchin Y., Gopher D., Olin M., BadihiI Y., Biesky M. (2003) A look into the nature

* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.