Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 26/27.R.2.00

Description Period: 2026./27 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Patient and Work Environment Safety

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
MDAK_257
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Nursing Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Eva Cela
Structure Unit Manager
Kristaps Circenis
Structural Unit
Department of Nursing and Obstetric Care
Contacts

Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, mdak@rsu.lv, +371 67061568

About Study Course

Objective

To gain an understanding of causality and systemic factors that can lead to unwanted outcomes in the treatment process, endangering the safety of patients and medical practitioners, as well as methods for identifying, assessing and preventing risks and contributing factors. To develop an understanding of improving patient and staff safety based on system, human factor and ergonomics principles. To introduce current initiatives, recommendations and examples of good practice in ensuring patient and workplace safety in Europe.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basic study courses in health care, including nursing, clinical care, health care organisation and legal aspects

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students will be able to explain the causal links that lead to an undesirable outcome for patient and staff safety. Will be able to define the role of work environment and risk factors for healthcare workers. Students will be able to explain various biosecurity criteria for healthcare patients (patient safety culture, safety standardization, safety development in research, safety communication and ethical and social aspects of safety).

Skills

1.Independently evaluate and explain the preventive role of environmental health as an environmental science and medicine in maintaining the health of patients and staff. Will be able to apply and assess patient safety and work environment risks, adverse events, as well as use analytical methods to reduce risks and factors influencing them.

Competences

1.Analyse and develop recommendations, measures to prevent and reduce environmental factors. Evaluate and justify patient safety criteria, leading to learning from potential or actual mistakes.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-
Reading and analysis of literature, discussions in working groups, evaluation of documents, videos and cases and formulation of opinions, independent preparation and presentation of presentations. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
10 points

Assessment of the study course

The results of the study course are assessed by cumulative assessment:

  • I seminar – 40% – selection and analysis of scientific literature on the psycho-emotional risk factors of the nurse’s work environment or their prevention and intervention programs/measures;
  • II seminar – 40% – identification of patient safety risks and development of a plan for preventive measures, using scientific publications and evidence-based practice principles;
  • independent work (video analysis) – 10%;
  • active participation in face-to-face classes and simulations – 10%.

Assessment of the work according to the developed criteria (published in e-studies at the study course), assessment according to the RSU regulations.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Patient safety in healthcare: basic principles and safety culture – concept of patient safety, adverse events, incidents, the role of the nurse in ensuring safe care

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Patient safety risks and causes of adverse events – systemic factors, human factor, errors, risk identification and assessment

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Safety in the work environment in nursing practice – physical, biological, chemical, ergonomic and psycho-emotional risk factors

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Human factor, ergonomics and psychosocial safety – stress, workload, fatigue, burnout, communication, teamwork and ergonomics

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Improving patient and workplace safety: evidence-based practice and current initiatives – prevention, intervention, recommendations, safety culture improvement and good practice examples in Europe

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Improving patient and workplace safety: evidence-based practice and current initiatives – prevention, intervention, recommendations, safety culture improvement and good practice examples in Europe

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Patient safety culture and the role of nurses in ensuring safe care (Case studies, features of safety culture)

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Patient safety culture and the role of nurses in ensuring safe care (Case studies, features of safety culture)

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Patient safety culture and the role of nurses in ensuring safe care (Case studies, features of safety culture)

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Patient safety culture and the role of nurses in ensuring safe care (Case studies, features of safety culture)

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Adverse events and incidents in healthcare (Case analysis, identification of causes and effects)

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Types of training for healthcare professionals and the Co-design method in promoting an engagement culture. (Training for nurses/midwives/physician assistants, etc.; Leadership and management training); benefits and steps of the Co-design method

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Psychosocial risk factors in the work environment or prevention and intervention programmes/measures

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Medication safety and other common patient safety risks

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
-
2

Topics

Work environment factors and ergonomics in healthcare practice. Practical examples of ergonomics, patient handling, risk of errors.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
-
2

Topics

Communication and teamwork in the context of patient safety (communication errors, information transfer, simulation situation).Different communication methods and management in patient safety (simulation classes)
Integrated patient and work environment safety case analysis. Complex situation analysis, risk identification and presentation of a prevention plan
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Kalisch J.B. Errors of Omission. ANA 2016.Suitable for English stream

2.

Darba drošības un veselības aizsardzības prasības, saskaroties ar bioloģiskajiem aģentiem darba vidē / Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Darba drošības un vides veselības institūts. 2011. (akceptējams izdevums)

3.

Third draft Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030.Suitable for English stream

4.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Patient Safety research Highlights: Program Brief (continued).Suitable for English stream

5.

Clinical Human Factors group. Checklists, teamwork minimizing mistakes in medicine.Suitable for English stream

6.

Eglīte M. Darba medicīna. Rīga: Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte, 2012. (akceptējams izdevums)

7.

S. Dekker. Patient Safety : A Human Factors Approach. 2011. (akceptējams izdevums)Suitable for English stream

8.

Circenis K., Millere I. Stress related work environment factors: nurses survey results. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health. Vol. 4 No. 6 (2012) pp. 1150-1157. (akceptējams izdevums)Suitable for English stream

9.

Harold Kerzner. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. Ebook Central, 2017Suitable for English stream

10.

Reinhard Busse, Niek Klazinga, Dimitra Panteli, and Wilm Quentin.Improving Healthcare Quality in Europe.OECD. European Observatory, 2019.Suitable for English stream

Additional Reading

1.

G.J.Gyani., A.Thomas. Handbook of Healthcare Quality & Patient safety. 2022.Suitable for English stream

2.

Asthmore, S., Ruthven, T. & Hazelwood, L. Stage 2: Measuring performance. In New Principles of Best Practice in Clinical Audit. Ed. by R. Burgess. London: Radcliffe, 2011Suitable for English stream

3.

Bateman, N. The Business of Nurse Management: A Toolkit for Success. Springer Publishing Company, LLC, 2012. p. 246.Suitable for English stream

4.

Flin, R. & O’Connor, P. Safety at the Sharp End: A Guide to Non-technical Skills. CRC Press, 2nd ed. 2025. p. 330Suitable for English stream

Other Information Sources

1.

WHO Patient safetySuitable for English stream

2.

Patient safe solutionsSuitable for English stream

3.

Tools :Institute for Healthcare Improvement (ihi.org)Suitable for English stream