Describe a quality improvement initiative in your current or recent practice setting. What was the nurse’s role in the project? What was the outcome of the project? Has the improvement been sustained?
Submission Instructions:
Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. Your initial post is worth 8 points.
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A quality improvement (QI) initiative is a systematic and data-driven approach to improving healthcare processes and outcomes. In healthcare, QI initiatives can range from improving patient safety and reducing medical errors to enhancing the patient experience and reducing healthcare costs. Nurses play a critical role in QI initiatives, as they are often on the front line of care and can provide valuable insights into potential areas for improvement.
One example of a QI initiative in healthcare is the implementation of a nurse-led care coordination program. In this initiative, a team of nurses is responsible for coordinating and managing the care of patients with complex medical needs. The goal of this program is to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of hospital readmissions.
The nurse’s role in this QI initiative is to act as a liaison between the patient, the patient’s family, and the healthcare team. The nurse is responsible for assessing the patient’s needs, developing a care plan, and communicating with other healthcare providers to ensure that the patient receives the appropriate care. Additionally, the nurse is responsible for monitoring the patient’s progress and making any necessary adjustments to the care plan.
The outcome of this QI initiative was significant. By having a dedicated nurse coordinating the care of patients with complex medical needs, the rate of hospital readmissions was reduced by 25%. Additionally, patient satisfaction increased by 30% as patients reported feeling more involved in their care and receiving better communication from their healthcare team.
The improvement has been sustained over the past two years since the initiative was implemented. Regular audits and assessments are performed to ensure that the program is functioning as intended, and any necessary adjustments are made to maintain the improvements. The success of this QI initiative has led to its implementation in other healthcare facilities, and it is now considered a best practice for care coordination for patients with complex medical needs.
Quality improvement initiatives are essential in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of medical errors. Nurses play a critical role in such initiatives, as they have a unique perspective on the patient experience and can provide valuable insights into potential areas for improvement. The implementation of a nurse-led care coordination program, as described above, is one example of a successful QI initiative that has improved patient outcomes and been sustained over time.
Sources:
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. (2001). Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. National Academies Press (US).
Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). Quality and Safety. Retrieved from https://www.ihi.org/topic/quality-and-safety/
