Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which Institute of Medicine report primarily focuses on creating a safer health system?

1. Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses

2. To Err Is Human

3. Patient Safety Initiatives

4. Healthcare Quality Improvement

The correct answer is: To Err Is Human

The Institute of Medicine report that primarily focuses on creating a safer health system is "To Err Is Human." Released in 1999, this landmark report highlights the prevalence of medical errors in healthcare and emphasizes the need for improvements in patient safety. It brought attention to the significant number of preventable injuries and deaths caused by medical mistakes, fundamentally altering the conversation around patient safety at the national level. The report calls for a comprehensive strategy to improve the safety of healthcare systems, advocating for better training for healthcare professionals, the implementation of safety measures, and a shift in culture that encourages reporting and learning from errors instead of assigning blame. This focus on systemic change is essential for fostering an environment where patient safety is prioritized, making "To Err Is Human" a foundational document in the movement toward safer healthcare practices.