Quality Improvement Proposal Intro
NURS 480 W: Nursing Leadership
Assignment Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to identify a safety issue within a health care organization that needs to change to promote better delivery of patient care; to demonstrate an ability to collaboratively problem-solve in an interdisciplinary environment while working towards resolution of a common problem.
Approach to Assignment
This assignment was a group proposal aimed at addressing a frequently occurring safety concern we observed during our clinical rotations related to nursing documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR) and patient reassessments. Our approach focused on quality improvement, systems thinking, and incorporating evidence as a precedent for proposing workflow and process modifications designed to enhance patient safety and nursing accountability. We utilized a systems-thinking approach to develop a sustainable strategy for change that factored stakeholder perspectives and collaboration into the project design.
Reason for Inclusion
Domain 5 (Quality and Safety) and Domain 8 (Informatics and Healthcare Technologies). Accesses and utilizes data and information from a wide range of sources to evaluate patient safety and care outcomes.
Our proposal incorporated evidence-based measures established by both governing bodies of healthcare systems and subject matter experts within the nursing profession. Leaning into this precedent allowed us to develop our project around strategies that have shown to be effective.
Domain 5 (Quality and Safety) and Domain 6 (Interprofessional Partnerships). Articulate the nurse’s role as a member of the interprofessional team in promoting safety and preventing errors and near misses.
By promoting an inclusive environment for EMR policy changes aimed at promoting patient safety and incorporating unit nurse involvement in the initiative, our proposal recognizes the role unit nurses play in promoting safety and working with Information Technology/ Information Services departments and nursing leadership to enhance quality improvement on the unit.
Domain 8 (Informatics and Healthcare Technologies). Demonstrates skills in using technology, informatics, and communication devices to deliver care using remote technology.
Our approach to this assignment utilized data, informatics, and quality improvement concepts to identify and address a patient safety concern related to information technology use and EMR documentation. We focused on how charting shortcuts provided in the EMR create opportunities for charting discrepancies, and how this compromises patient safety. The project proposed quality improvement, evidence-based systems changes to enhance nursing care and increase patient safety.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (n.d.). Domains & Concepts. The essentials. https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials/tool-kit/domains-concept
Read the details of our project proposal here: