LAUSR

W role do leaders play in establishing a culture of safety? In a previous “Patient Safety First” column, past AORN President Susan K. Banschbach, MSN, RN, CNOR, stated, “Leaders have unique opportunities to affect the culture of their organizations.”1(p162) With an increasing emphasis being placed on safety through enhanced reporting and elevated public scrutiny, perioperative leaders need to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of their patients are top priorities and develop a culture that is supportive of these objectives. A perioperative leader should assess departmental processes, reporting structures, and staff member knowledge regarding safety processes to determine if they are adequate to support a safe environment for patients and personnel. The leader also needs to look beyond his or her department to evaluate the performance of other department personnel who interact with perioperative services personnel and devise strategies to ensure their participation in the safety plan as well. This article examines how to build an infrastructure that addresses multiple aspects of perioperative services to assist in achieving a culture of safety.