Quality Improvement and Safety
Recognize, analyze, and apply the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards needed to improve quality and safety across the care continuum in diverse settings. Demonstrates knowledge of potential and actual impacts of national patient safety resources, initiatives, and regulations. Uses evidence to continuously improve the quality of clinical practice. Evaluates factors that influence cost, quality and safety of healthcare and organizational structures.
This competency was met primarily in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Outcomes Management (NURS 5056). Beginning with the CQI Question Development tool, I identified an opportunity to improve patient care where I worked. My question was "Does the consistent use of order sets in the emergency department improve patient wait times compared to patient wait times with lack of appropriate use of order sets?" This led to my Quality Improvement Project presentation.
I had experience working in quality improvement in an outpatient setting, but I gained new insights after interviewing a quality improvement nurse leader who worked in an inpatient setting. I was also able expand my knowledge of the "bigger picture" of quality improvement with an assignment in the Fall of 2015 (Major Drivers of Quality), including how finance is tied to quality.
Pulling all the knowledge gained throughout my graduate education and in implementing my Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies (5058, 5059, 5060), I am confident in my abilities to recognize, analyze, and apply the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards needed to improve the quality and safety of nursing care in whatever setting(s) my future holds.
CQI Question Development Tool For Continuous Quality Improvement and Outcomes Management (paper)
Interview with QI Nurse Leader for Continuous Quality Improvement and Outcomes Management (paper)
Major Drivers of Quality (presentation)
Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies II (presentation)
Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies II (paper)
Strategic Project for Transformational Strategies III (in progress)