Knowledge of nursing professionals on the activities developed by risk management in a hospital in the interior of São Paulo

Objective: to evaluate the knowledge of nursing professionals about the activities developed by Risk Management (GR) at the Sao Paulo State Hospital. Method: exploratory study conducted in 2013 with quantitative descriptive analysis of the data. A questionnaire was applied to nursing professionals who worked in the hospital units. Results: most nursing professionals knew the GR unit (90.60% of nurses and 82.30% of nursing technicians and assistants); 71.90% of nurses and 35.45% of nursing technicians and assistants reported having notified the institution. The professionals interviewed reported having adverse events that were not notified by the GR (Nurses = 37.50% and Nursing Technicians and Assistants = 29.10%). Most nursing professionals indicate a need for training (Nurses = 78.10% and Nursing Technicians and Assistants = 88.60%). Conclusion: It is necessary to adopt strategies to improve professionals' knowledge and the process of notification of health products in the institution.