Identify a patient safety issue and describe the influence of nursing leadership in driving the needed changes.

Patient safety is an important issue that must be addressed in healthcare settings. One specific patient safety concern is the implementation of effective hand hygiene practices among health care providers. Poor hand hygiene can result in the spread of infections and other illnesses, which endangers both patients and staff alike.

Nursing leadership plays a critical role in driving changes to reduce this risk factor. This begins with creating awareness around the importance of proper hand hygiene among nursing staff and promoting its use as part of routine good practice rather than just another task to be completed. Nursing leaders should also ensure appropriate resources are available to support effective handwashing such as adequate supplies of soap/sanitizer, sinks/dispensers, etc., while also monitoring compliance with established protocols.

Nursing leadership should also strive to create a culture where it’s safe for staff members to openly report any lapses or problems related to handwashing practices without fear of retribution or criticism from their peers or superiors. Finally, nursing leaders must actively uphold these standards by leading by example and ensuring all staff under their supervision are adequately trained on why proper hand hygiene is so important and how best to go about implementing it into their daily practice routines.