Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

How can staff best support a culture of safety in healthcare?

1. By working in silos to maintain confidentiality.

2. By collaboratively sharing information and error reports.

3. By avoiding discussions about mistakes.

4. By focusing solely on individual performance metrics.

The correct answer is: By collaboratively sharing information and error reports.

Supporting a culture of safety in healthcare is fundamentally about collaboration and open communication among staff members. When staff members collaboratively share information and error reports, they contribute to an environment where learning from mistakes is prioritized. This transparency promotes trust, encourages reporting of incidents without fear of retribution, and facilitates collective problem-solving. In a culture focused on safety, sharing information allows for the identification of patterns, the development of preventive measures, and the implementation of best practices. It also enables staff to engage in meaningful discussions about potential improvements and to learn from one another's experiences, leading to enhanced patient care and safety outcomes. The other options highlight practices that could undermine a culture of safety. Working in silos might protect individual confidentiality, but it also limits collaboration and knowledge sharing. Avoiding discussions about mistakes creates an environment where errors are hidden rather than openly addressed, impeding improvement efforts. Similarly, focusing solely on individual performance metrics can foster competition rather than collaboration, which can be detrimental to a team-oriented approach essential for safety in healthcare.