QUALITY INDICATORS
Florence Nightingale introduced research to the field of nursing, and with this introduction, a focus on improving patient care has continued to be at the forefront of nursing practice. Improving patient care lends itself to the study of quality care and patient safety, and nurse-sensitive quality indicators highlight the elements of healthcare in which patients are directly impacted by the care provided by nurses.
What are nurse-sensitive indicators? What elements of a patient’s care are directly impacted by the role and delivery of care of nurses? How might these nurse-sensitive indicators change healthcare delivery and the nursing profession for a future DNP-prepared nurse?
For this Discussion, you will explore your understanding of nurse-sensitive indicators of quality by reflecting on those quality indicators that may pertain most to your practice setting. You will conduct a literature search for articles that address these quality indicators and reflect on the connections between the quality indicators and quality improvement theories and philosophies.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE:
Review the Learning Resources on quality indicators for this week. Focus on those quality indicators that most pertain to your practice setting.
Consider the influence of early quality improvement theories and philosophies on the development of those quality indicators.
Using the Walden Library, locate at least two scholarly research articles to focus on, for this Discussion, that discuss how quality indicators may influence your practice setting.
Select one definition of quality published by any peer-reviewed source that particularly resonates with your thinking about quality.
Identify and select at least two nurse-sensitive indicators of quality related to patient care. Note: Do not select nurse-sensitive indicators related to staffing.
BY DAY 3 OF WEEK 2
Post a brief description of the two nurse-sensitive indicators of quality that you selected. Analyze the influence of early quality improvement theories and philosophies on the development of the quality indicators you selected. Be specific. Then, cite the two (2) nursing research articles you selected, and explain how these indicators may influence your practice setting. Be specific and provide examples.
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Nurse-sensitive indicators are measures that reflect the quality of nursing care provided to patients. These indicators are directly impacted by the role and delivery of care by nurses and can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions and the overall quality of patient care. Some examples of nurse-sensitive indicators include patient falls, pressure ulcers, and patient satisfaction.
The development of nurse-sensitive indicators has been influenced by early quality improvement theories and philosophies, such as the work of W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran. Deming’s focus on continuous improvement and Juran’s emphasis on the importance of quality management have both contributed to the development of these indicators, as they highlight the need for ongoing Assessment and improvement of nursing care.
In order to explore the impact of nurse-sensitive indicators on a specific practice setting, I have selected two indicators: patient falls and pressure ulcers.
Patient falls: Patient falls are a significant concern in healthcare settings, as they can lead to serious injuries and complications. Nurses play a crucial role in preventing falls by assessing patients’ risk factors, implementing fall prevention strategies, and monitoring patients closely.
Article: Dykes, P. C., Carroll, D. L., Hurley, A., Lipsitz, S., Benoit, A., Chang, F., … & Middleton, B. (2010). Fall prevention in acute care hospitals: a randomized trial. JAMA, 304(17), 1912-1918. Link
This article discusses a randomized trial that evaluated the effectiveness of a fall prevention program in acute care hospitals. The results showed that the program significantly reduced the rate of falls, highlighting the importance of nurse-sensitive indicators in improving patient safety.
Pressure ulcers: Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, are a common complication for patients with limited mobility. Nurses play a key role in preventing pressure ulcers by regularly repositioning patients, assessing skin integrity, and providing appropriate support surfaces.
Article: Bergquist-Beringer, S., Gajewski, B. J., Dunton, N., & Klaus, S. (2011). The reliability and validity of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators pressure ulcer indicator: a triangulation approach. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 26(4), 292-301. Link
This article examines the reliability and validity of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) pressure ulcer indicator. The results support the use of this indicator as a valid and reliable measure of nursing care quality related to pressure ulcer prevention.
In conclusion, nurse-sensitive indicators such as patient falls and pressure ulcers can have a significant impact on healthcare delivery and the nursing profession. By focusing on these indicators, DNP-prepared nurses can contribute to the ongoing improvement of patient care and safety, as well as the overall quality of nursing practice.
