What does CUS stand for in TeamSTEPPS and what is its purpose?

What does CUS stand for in TeamSTEPPS and what is its purpose?

• A. A protocol for documenting patient consent
• B. A framework of assertive statements that help empower team members to speak up if they sense or discover an essential safety concern
• C. A schedule for staff rotations
• D. A survey tool for patient satisfaction

Answer: (B)

CUS in TeamSTEPPS is a concise, standardized way for team members to voice safety concerns quickly and clearly. It provides three short phrases that anyone can use to escalate a potential safety issue: “I’m concerned,” “I’m uncomfortable,” and “This is a safety issue.” The goal is to give all team members, regardless of position, a simple script to speak up when something doesn’t seem right, so the team can pause and address the risk before harm occurs. This approach supports open communication and patient safety by reducing hesitation and hierarchy in critical moments. This option fits best because it directly describes using assertive, ready-to-use statements to empower speaking up about safety concerns. The other choices describe tasks or tools unrelated to voicing concerns or ensuring safety, such as documenting consent, scheduling, or measuring satisfaction.

CUS in TeamSTEPPS is a concise, standardized way for team members to voice safety concerns quickly and clearly. It provides three short phrases that anyone can use to escalate a potential safety issue: “I’m concerned,” “I’m uncomfortable,” and “This is a safety issue.” The goal is to give all team members, regardless of position, a simple script to speak up when something doesn’t seem right, so the team can pause and address the risk before harm occurs. This approach supports open communication and patient safety by reducing hesitation and hierarchy in critical moments.

This option fits best because it directly describes using assertive, ready-to-use statements to empower speaking up about safety concerns. The other choices describe tasks or tools unrelated to voicing concerns or ensuring safety, such as documenting consent, scheduling, or measuring satisfaction.