Patient Safety & Therapeutic Communication

Safety as a system property

AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network disseminates research on errors, near misses, and prevention strategies.¹ Individual mistakes often reflect system gaps—unclear orders, poor handoffs, or inadequate staffing. Speak up when conditions threaten safety.

Practical nurses are at the bedside longest; you may be the first to notice delirium, aspiration risk, or suicidal ideation.

Therapeutic communication

Active listening, open-ended questions, and reflecting feelings build trust. Avoid false reassurance (“everything will be fine”) when uncertainty exists—instead, explain what you know and what you will do next.

Cultural humility improves care: ask preferred language, involve interpreters for medical content, and respect modesty and family roles.

Privacy and advocacy

HHS enforces HIPAA protections for health information.² Discuss care in private, shield screens during procedures, and share only what team members need to know.

Advocacy means protecting patients from harm—even when it requires escalating concerns to RNs, providers, or rapid response teams.