A Nurse's Mission to Redefine Patient Safety

With over 13 years of nursing experience, Trina Lapsley is a driving force in patient safety and risk management. As Director of Patient Safety and Risk Management at Harris Health System, she leads initiatives to reduce harm, strengthen safety protocols, and foster transparency.

Holding an MSN in Executive Nurse Leadership, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, and certifications in Critical Care and Healthcare Quality, Trina integrates strategic planning, datadriven insights, and patient advocacy to improve healthcare outcomes. She is committed to zero harm, equitable healthcare, and empowering clinicians and patients.

Through high-reliability strategies and Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs), she ensures that patients’ voices shape safer, more effective healthcare systems.

A Nurse’s Journey to Patient Safety Leadership

I began my nursing career with an associate degree, later earning a bachelor’s and master’s. Starting in cardiac transplant, I transitioned to pediatric oncology and ICU care.

A medication error during a hectic shift change reshaped my path. Though the patient was unharmed, the experience made me realize how errors affect both patients and providers. Instead of letting it define me, I turned it into motivation to improve patient safety.

This drive led me to quality improvement and, ultimately, leadership. As Director of Patient Safety, I analyze safety events, identify root causes, and implement measures to prevent harm. Over two years, my team has made significant progress using data-driven strategies.

I love what I do because it turns real experiences into lasting improvements, fostering a culture where safety is second nature.

Creating a Culture Of Psychological Safety In Healthcare

One of the biggest challenges in patient safety is psychological safety—the ability to speak up without fear of punishment. Too often, healthcare professionals hesitate to report errors, fearing retaliation or embarrassment. This silence prevents learning opportunities and hinders progress.

At my organization, we actively work to change that. Our annual Culture of Safety survey gathers feedback from clinicians on what they need to feel safe and how we can improve processes. We focus on shifting from blame to understanding, ensuring that when errors occur, we learn rather than punish.

To reinforce this, we’ve launched zero-harm campaigns, hosted town halls, and expanded communication efforts. These initiatives build trust, encourage transparency, and create an environment where speaking up leads to solutions—not consequences.

The Power of High-Reliability And Leading With Love

Embracing the High-Reliability Organization (HRO) model has been transformative. With our system CEO setting the expectation of zero harm, we acknowledge that mistakes happen, but our goal is to ensure they don’t harm patients. Over the past two and a half years, this initiative has shifted how we approach safety and quality.

A key part of this transformation is Leading with Love—a leadership approach rooted in empathy and emotional intelligence. It’s about showing care through action—asking the right questions, supporting staff, and fostering an environment where people feel valued. This approach has strengthened engagement and reinforced that safety is a shared mission.

This system-wide commitment to continuous improvement, trust, and accountability is making a real difference.

Clear Communication, Strong Relationships: The Key To Patient Safety

Effective communication is essential to patient safety. It requires timeliness, clarity, and consistency in setting expectations, ensuring that safety remains a non-negotiable standard. But communication alone isn’t enough—it must be paired with strong relationships.

Engaging with both organizational leaders and clinical staff aligns everyone with our shared vision for safety and quality. To strengthen this connection, we established the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)—a platform where patients and families provide input on safety and care experiences. Their insights help refine everything from signage clarity to pre-op education, ensuring a truly patient-centered processes.

We meet with the PFAC quarterly, gathering feedback to drive continuous improvement. Their perspectives remind us that patient safety isn’t just about systems—it’s about people. By listening, learning, and acting on their feedback, we’re building a safer, more compassionate healthcare environment.