The Healthcare Professional Credo
TEN COMMITMENTS. EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP.
From “I Will” to I do.
Teach the commitment. Observe the behavior. Sustain the practice.
Explore all ten leadership lessons. Saved learner records are available only to authorized administrators and Credo Coaches. Sign in.
COMMITMENT 04
I Will speak up when patient safety or quality of care is compromised.
Learning objective: Practice clear escalation and a constructive response to concern.
1. Understand the commitment
Leaders must both raise concerns and respond well when someone else does. State the observed risk clearly, seek an immediate safe response, and follow the organization’s escalation procedure if the issue remains unresolved. Thank the person who speaks up, investigate system conditions, and report back. Routine learning reviews do not replace immediate safety escalation. A rise in reported concerns can reflect improved willingness to speak rather than worse care.
Observable behaviors
- Describe the observed risk and request a safe next step.
- Escalate unresolved concerns through the local safety chain.
- Thank the reporter and communicate what happened next.
Describe a recent moment when this commitment was difficult. What could an observer have seen or heard you do?
2. Practice and reflect
A junior colleague says a required safety check appears to have been skipped. A senior clinician dismisses the concern. What should the leader do?
Read the facilitator’s explanation
Respond to the immediate risk first and follow the local escalation process. A supportive response to the reporter makes future concerns easier to raise.
Reflect: How did your response make the next person more or less likely to speak up?
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3. Observe and coach
Choose the behavioral level supported by your evidence. Unobserved commitments remain unscored.
A de-identified escalation example, response, follow-up, and a coaching discussion about speaking up.
Suggested process measureSafety concerns with documented follow-up / concerns sampled; interpret alongside staff willingness to report.