see below
see below
KE 4020 assessment 1
For this assessment, you will develop a 3–5 page paper that examines a safety quality issue in a health care setting. You will analyze the issue and examine potential evidence-based and best-practice solutions from the literature as well as the role of nurses and other stakeholders in addressing the issue.
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Introduction
Health care organizations and professionals strive to create safe environments for patients; however, due to the complexity of the health care system, maintaining safety can be a challenge. Since nurses comprise the largest group of health care professionals, a great deal of responsibility falls in the hands of practicing nurses. Quality improvement (QI) measures and safety improvement plans are effective interventions to reduce medical errors and sentinel events such as medication errors, falls, infections, and deaths. A 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report indicated that almost one million people are harmed annually in the United States, (Kohn et al., 2000) and 210,000–440,000 die as a result of medical errors (Allen, 2013).
The role of the baccalaureate nurse includes identifying and explaining specific patient risk factors, incorporating evidence-based solutions to improving patient safety and coordinating care. A solid foundation of knowledge and understanding of safety organizations such as Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and The Joint Commission and its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) program is vital to practicing nurses with regard to providing and promoting safe and effective patient care.
You are encouraged to complete the Identifying Safety Risks and Solutions activity. This activity offers an opportunity to review a case study and practice identifying safety risks and possible solutions. We have found that learners who complete course activities and review resources are more successful with first submissions. Completing course activities is also a way to demonstrate course engagement.
References
Allen, M. (2013). How many die from medical mistakes in U.S. hospitals? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/09/20/224507654/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-u-s-hospitals.
Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J., & Donaldson, M. S. (Eds.). (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. National Academy Press.
Professional Context
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for implementing quality improvement (QI) and patient safety measures in health care settings. Effective quality improvement measures result in systemic and organizational changes, ultimately leading to the development of a patient safety culture.
The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in enhancing quality improvement (QI) measures that address a safety quality issue in a health care setting. This will be within the specific context of patient safety risks at a health care setting of your choice. You will do this by exploring the professional guidelines and best practices for improving and maintaining patient safety in health care settings from organizations such as QSEN and the IOM.
Looking through the lens of these professional best practices to examine the current policies and procedures currently in place at your chosen organization and the impact on safety measures for patients surrounding a specific safety quality issue, you will consider the role of the nurse in driving quality and safety improvements. You will identify stakeholders in QI improvement and safety measures as well as consider evidence-based strategies to enhance quality of care and promote medication administration safety in the context of your chosen health care setting.
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for implementing quality improvement (QI) and patient safety measures in health care settings. Effective quality improvement measures result in systemic and organizational changes, ultimately leading to the development of a patient safety culture.
The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in enhancing quality improvement (QI) measures that address a safety quality issue in a health care setting. This will be within the specific context of patient safety risks at a health care setting of your choice. You will do this by exploring the professional guidelines and best practices for improving and maintaining patient safety in health care settings from organizations such as QSEN and the IOM.
Looking through the lens of these professional best practices to examine the current policies and procedures currently in place at your chosen organization and the impact on safety measures for patients surrounding a specific safety quality issue, you will consider the role of the nurse in driving quality and safety improvements. You will identify stakeholders in QI improvement and safety measures as well as consider evidence-based strategies to enhance quality of care and promote safety in the context of your chosen health care setting.
Scenario
Select one of the safety quality issues presented in the Assessment 01 Supplement: Enhancing Quality and Safety [PDF] Download Assessment 01 Supplement: Enhancing Quality and Safety [PDF]resource and incorporate evidence-based strategies to support communication and ensure safe and effective care.
Instructions
For this assessment, you will analyze a safety quality issue in a health care setting and identify a quality improvement (QI) initiative.
Be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so that you know what is needed for a distinguished score.
- Explain factors leading to a specific patient-safety risk in a health care setting.
- Explain evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety and reduce costs.
- Explain how nurses can help coordinate care to increase patient safety and reduce costs.
- Identify stakeholders with whom nurses would coordinate to drive safety enhancements with a specific safety quality issue.
- Communicate using writing that is clear, logical, and professional, with correct grammar and spelling, using current APA style.
Additional Requirements
- Length of submission: 3–5 pages, plus title and reference pages.
- Number of references: Cite a minimum of 4 sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your findings and considerations. Resources should be no more than 5 years old.
- APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to current APA style.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Analyze the elements of a successful quality improvement initiative.
- Explain evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety and reduce costs.
- Competency 2: Analyze factors that lead to patient safety risks.
- Explain factors leading to a specific patient-safety risk in a health care setting.
- Competency 4: Explain the nurse's role in coordinating care to enhance quality and reduce costs.
- Explain how nurses can help coordinate care to increase patient safety and reduce costs.
- Identify stakeholders with whom nurses would coordinate to drive safety enhancements with a specific safety quality issue.
- Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based strategies to communicate in a manner that supports safe and effective patient care.
- Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar or punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
- Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.
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Assessment 01 – Enhancing Quality and Safety
For this assessment, you will develop a 3–5-page paper that examines a safety quality issue in a health care setting. You will analyze the issue and examine potential evidence-based and best-practice solutions from the literature as well as the role of nurses and other stakeholders in addressing the issue. Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the safety quality issues below to analyze for this assessment. After you have selected one of the issues from the list below, return to the detailed instructions in the courseroom to complete your assessment.
• Delayed Response to Deteriorating Patient Condition in Healthcare: A patient's condition can change rapidly, and timely interventions are often crucial to prevent further deterioration or even save a life. For nursing students, understanding the implications of delayed responses to such changes is vital. Here's why:
o Patient Safety and Outcomes: The most immediate concern with delayed responses is the potential harm to the patient. Rapid interventions can prevent complications, reduce the severity of outcomes, and in some cases, be the difference between life and death.
o Window of Intervention: Many medical conditions have a critical window during which interventions are most effective. Delays in recognizing and responding can narrow or close this window, limiting treatment options and reducing the likelihood of positive outcomes.
o Increased Complexity of Care: A patient who has deteriorated further due to a delayed response often requires more complex and aggressive treatments than if the issue had been addressed promptly. This can involve higher-risk procedures, more medications, and longer recovery times.
o Emotional and Psychological Impact on Patients and Families: Witnessing a loved one deteriorate without prompt intervention can be traumatic for families. It can lead to feelings of helplessness, frustration, and mistrust towards the healthcare system.
o Professional Implications: Delays in responding to deteriorating patients can have significant repercussions for healthcare professionals. These might include disciplinary actions, loss of licensure, legal consequences, and damage to one's professional reputation.
o Economic Costs: Delays can lead to extended hospital stays, additional treatments, and potential lawsuits, all of which result in increased costs for healthcare systems and patients.
o Team Dynamics and Morale: Repeated incidents of delayed responses can strain team dynamics. It can lead to blame, guilt, and tensions among team members, impacting the overall functioning and morale of the unit.
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o Quality Metrics and Accreditation: Healthcare facilities often have quality metrics that track response times to various clinical scenarios. Poor performance in these metrics can lead to penalties, increased scrutiny, and challenges in maintaining accreditation.
• Inadequate Pain Management in Healthcare: Pain management is a fundamental
aspect of patient care, encompassing both the physical and emotional dimensions of health. Here's why understanding the significance and intricacies of pain management is essential:
o Physical Recovery: Adequate pain management facilitates the body's healing process. When pain is well-managed, patients can participate more actively in physical therapy, move more freely, and engage in activities that promote recovery.
o Emotional and Psychological Well-being: Chronic or acute unmanaged pain can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness. Proper pain management not only addresses the physical sensation but also supports the patient's overall mental well-being.
o Patient Compliance: Patients who experience unmanaged pain may be less likely to adhere to treatment plans, attend follow-up appointments, or engage in rehabilitative activities, all of which can hinder their recovery.
o Quality of Life: Pain affects every aspect of a patient's life, from daily activities and sleep patterns to social interactions and mental focus. Effective pain management can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
o Patient Satisfaction: Pain management is often a primary concern for patients in healthcare settings. Their satisfaction with care is closely tied to how effectively their pain is managed. Satisfied patients are more likely to trust their healthcare providers, adhere to medical advice, and have better overall outcomes.
o Professional and Ethical Responsibility: Healthcare providers have an ethical responsibility to alleviate suffering. Inadequate pain management can be seen as a failure in this duty, impacting the professional reputation of the provider and the institution.
o Economic Implications: Unmanaged pain can lead to extended hospital stays, increased healthcare visits, and additional treatments, resulting in higher costs for both patients and healthcare systems.
o Potential for Chronic Pain: Inadequate management of acute pain can sometimes lead to the development of chronic pain conditions. Chronic pain can be more challenging to treat and can have long-term implications for the patient's health and quality of life.
,
1
Assessment 01 – Enhancing Quality and Safety
For this assessment, you will develop a 3–5-page paper that examines a safety quality issue in a health care setting. You will analyze the issue and examine potential evidence-based and best-practice solutions from the literature as well as the role of nurses and other stakeholders in addressing the issue. Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the safety quality issues below to analyze for this assessment. After you have selected one of the issues from the list below, return to the detailed instructions in the courseroom to complete your assessment.
• Delayed Response to Deteriorating Patient Condition in Healthcare: A patient's condition can change rapidly, and timely interventions are often crucial to prevent further deterioration or even save a life. For nursing students, understanding the implications of delayed responses to such changes is vital. Here's why:
o Patient Safety and Outcomes: The most immediate concern with delayed responses is the potential harm to the patient. Rapid interventions can prevent complications, reduce the severity of outcomes, and in some cases, be the difference between life and death.
o Window of Intervention: Many medical conditions have a critical window during which interventions are most effective. Delays in recognizing and responding can narrow or close this window, limiting treatment options and reducing the likelihood of positive outcomes.
o Increased Complexity of Care: A patient who has deteriorated further due to a delayed response often requires more complex and aggressive treatments than if the issue had been addressed promptly. This can involve higher-risk procedures, more medications, and longer recovery times.
o Emotional and Psychological Impact on Patients and Families: Witnessing a loved one deteriorate without prompt intervention can be traumatic for families. It can lead to feelings of helplessness, frustration, and mistrust towards the healthcare system.
o Professional Implications: Delays in responding to deteriorating patients can have significant repercussions for healthcare professionals. These might include disciplinary actions, loss of licensure, legal consequences, and damage to one's professional reputation.
o Economic Costs: Delays can lead to extended hospital stays, additional treatments, and potential lawsuits, all of which result in increased costs for healthcare systems and patients.
o Team Dynamics and Morale: Repeated incidents of delayed responses can strain team dynamics. It can lead to blame, guilt, and tensions among team members, impacting the overall functioning and morale of the unit.
2
o Quality Metrics and Accreditation: Healthcare facilities often have quality metrics that track response times to various clinical scenarios. Poor performance in these metrics can lead to penalties, increased scrutiny, and challenges in maintaining accreditation.
• Inadequate Pain Management in Healthcare: Pain management is a fundamental
aspect of patient care, encompassing both the physical and emotional dimensions of health. Here's why understanding the significance and intricacies of pain management is essential:
o Physical Recovery: Adequate pain management facilitates the body's healing process. When pain is well-managed, patients can participate more actively in physical therapy, move more freely, and engage in activities that promote recovery.
o Emotional and Psychological Well-being: Chronic or acute unmanaged pain can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness. Proper pain management not only addresses the physical sensation but also supports the patient's overall mental well-being.
o Patient Compliance: Patients who experience unmanaged pain may be less likely to adhere to treatment plans, attend follow-up appointments, or engage in rehabilitative activities, all of which can hinder their recovery.
o Quality of Life: Pain affects every aspect of a patient's life, from daily activities and sleep patterns to social interactions and mental focus. Effective pain management can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
o Patient Satisfaction: Pain management is often a primary concern for patients in healthcare settings. Their satisfaction with care is closely tied to how effectively their pain is managed. Satisfied patients are more likely to trust their healthcare providers, adhere to medical advice, and have better overall outcomes.
o Professional and Ethical Responsibility: Healthcare providers have an ethical responsibility to alleviate suffering. Inadequate pain management can be seen as a failure in this duty, impacting the professional reputation of the provider and the institution.
o Economic Implications: Unmanaged pain can lead to extended hospital stays, increased healthcare visits, and additional treatments, resulting in higher costs for both patients and healthcare systems.
o Potential for Chronic Pain: Inadequate management of acute pain can sometimes lead to the development of chronic pain conditions. Chronic pain can be more challenging to treat and can have long-term implications for the patient's health and quality of life.
,
1
Assessment 01 – Enhancing Quality and Safety
For this assessment, you will develop a 3–5-page paper that examines a safety quality issue in a health care setting. You will analyze the issue and examine potential evidence-based and best-practice solutions from the literature as well as the role of nurses and other stakeholders in addressing the issue. Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the safety quality issues below to analyze for this assessment. After you have selected one of the issues from the list below, return to the detailed instructions in the courseroom to complete your assessment.
• Delayed Response to Deteriorating Patient Condition in Healthcare: A patient's condition can change rapidly, and timely interventions are often crucial to prevent further deterioration or even save a life. For nursing students, understanding the implications of delayed responses to such changes is vital. Here's why:
o Patient Safety and Outcomes: The most immediate concern with delayed responses is the potential harm to the patient. Rapid interventions can prevent complications, reduce the severity of outcomes, and in some cases, be the difference between life and death.
o Window of Intervention: Many medical conditions have a critical window during which interventions are most effective. Delays in recognizing and responding can narrow or close this window, limiting treatment options and reducing the likelihood of positive outcomes.
o Increased Complexity of Care: A patient who has deteriorated further due to a delayed response often requires more complex and aggressive treatments than if the issue had been addressed promptly. This can involve higher-risk procedures, more medications, and longer recovery times.
o Emotional and Psychological Impact on Patients and Families: Witnessing a loved one deteriorate without prompt intervention can be traumatic for families. It can lead to feelings of helplessness, frustration, and mistrust towards the healthcare system.
o Professional Implications: Delays in responding to deteriorating patients can have significant repercussions for healthcare professionals. These might include disciplinary actions, loss of licensure, legal consequences, and damage to one's professional reputation.
o Economic Costs: Delays can lead to extended hospital stays, additional treatments, and potential lawsuits, all of which result in increased costs for healthcare systems and patients.
o Team Dynamics and Morale: Repeated incidents of delayed responses can strain team dynamics. It can lead to blame, guilt, and tensions among team members, impacting the overall functioning and morale of the unit.
2
o Quality Metrics and Accreditation: Healthcare facilities often have quality metrics that track response times to various clinical scenarios. Poor performance in these metrics can lead to penalties, increased scrutiny, and challenges in maintaining accreditation.
• Inadequate Pain Management in Healthcare: Pain management is a fundamental
aspect of patient care, encompassing both the physical and emotional dimensions of health. Here's why understanding the significance and intricacies of pain management is essential:
o Physical Recovery: Adequate pain management facilitates the body's healing process. When pain is well-managed, patients can participate more actively in physical therapy, move more freely, and engage in activities that promote recovery.
o Emotional and Psychological Well-being: Chronic or acute unmanaged pain can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness. Proper pain management not only addresses the physical sensation but also supports the patient's overall mental well-being.
o Patient Compliance: Patients who experience unmanaged pain may be less likely to adhere to treatment plans, attend follow-up appointments, or engage in rehabilitative activities, all of which can hinder their recovery.
o Quality of Life: Pain affects every aspect of a patient's life, from daily activities and sleep patterns to social interactions and mental focus. Effective pain management can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
o Patient Satisfaction: Pain management is often a primary concern for patients in healthcare settings. Their satisfaction with care is closely tied to how effectively their pain is managed. Satisfied patients are more likely to trust their healthcare providers, adhere to medical advice, and have better overall outcomes.
o Professional and Ethical Responsibility: Healthcare providers have an ethical responsibility to alleviate suffering. Inadequate pain management can be seen as a failure in this duty, impacting the professional reputation of the provider and the institution.
o Economic Implications: Unmanaged pain can lead to extended hospital stays, increased healthcare visits, and additional treatments, resulting in higher costs for both patients and healthcare systems.
o Potential for Chronic Pain: Inadequate management of acute pain can sometimes lead to the development of chronic pain conditions. Chronic pain can be more challenging to treat and can have long-term implications for the patient's health and quality of life.