Course

NR513 Professional Role Enhancement

Importance of Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement – Collaboration Café

This week addressed the importance of quality assurance and quality improvement and how they are utilized within an organization to promote best outcomes. As noted in your lesson, one of the organizations that evaluates practice to standards is the Joint Commission.

Review the current National Patient Safety Goals surrounding your current practice setting. Please address the following questions:

How does your organization utilize the National Patient Safety Goals for practice?
Address a time where your organization had to take initiative to improve an area of safety and what resources were utilized.
Address the outcomes of this initiative and impact on patient safety.
Any new learning based upon review of these safety goals that would benefit your practice setting.

How to Approach This Discussion

Review the National Patient Safety Goals related to your practice setting
- Identify the safety goals that apply to the type of healthcare setting involved (such as hospital, clinic, or community care).
- Focus on common safety areas such as patient identification, medication safety, infection prevention, and communication among staff.
- Think about how these goals are visible in daily routines or procedures.
Explain how the organization applies these safety goals
- Reflect on policies, procedures, or protocols used to maintain safety standards.
- Consider examples such as patient identification checks, use of safety checklists, or staff training programs.
- Describe how these practices help maintain consistent and safe care.
Describe a safety improvement initiative
- Think of a situation where the organization identified a safety concern and took action to improve it.
- Identify the resources used, such as staff education, updated policies, safety equipment, or teamwork among departments.
- Focus on explaining what steps were taken to address the safety issue.
Discuss the outcomes of the safety initiative
- Reflect on the results after the safety improvement was implemented.
- Consider whether patient safety improved, errors were reduced, or workflow became more efficient.
- Explain how the initiative contributed to better patient outcomes or safer care.
Identify new learning from reviewing safety goals
- Reflect on any new ideas or safety practices discovered while reviewing the safety goals.
- Consider how this new learning can be applied to improve current practice.
- Emphasize how ongoing review of safety goals supports continuous quality improvement and patient safety.

Sample Solution

At a long term care facility where I previously worked pressure injuries were a huge issue. To utilize the National Patient Safety, we began to heavily enforce and regularly assess residents for skin integrity and risk of pressure injuries using tools like the Braden Scale. As well as use repositioning schedules and provide residents with appropriate pressure-relief devices like air mattresses……Click below to access the full sample solution (PDF)