Engaging Clinical Nurses in Quality and Performance Improvement Activities

Abstract

Nursing performance measures are an integral part of quality initiatives in acute care; however, organizations face numerous challenges in developing infrastructures to support quality improvement processes and timely dissemination of outcomes data. At the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a Magnet-designated organization, extensive work has been conducted to incorporate nursing-related outcomes in the organization's quality plan and to integrate roles for clinical nurses into the Department of Nursing and organization's core performance-based programs. Content and strategies that promote active involvement of nurses and prepare them to be competent and confident stakeholders in quality initiatives are presented. Engaging clinical nurses in the work of quality and performance improvement is essential to achieving excellence in clinical care. It is important to have structures and processes in place to bring meaningful data to the bedside; however, it is equally important to incorporate outcomes into practice. When nurses are educated about performance and quality measures, are engaged in identifying outcomes and collecting meaningful data, are active participants in disseminating quality reports, and are able to recognize the value of these activities, data become one with practice.

Condiciones de trabajo de las enfermeras y las formas de contratación en Medellín, Colombia

“…El 75,7% de las enfermeras reportan horas no reconocidas en su jornada laboral y disponen de un departamento de enfermería solo el 56%. 38 Asociaciones entre los tipos de contrato y las variables socio-demográficas. Al comparar las variables socio-demográficas con todos los tipos de contratación predominante: a término indefinido y contratación flexible, se encontró significancia estadística en las variables de tipo de institución, antigüedad laboral, cubrimiento de prestaciones sociales y salario mensual básico que afectaban las condiciones laborales de las enfermeras del estudio (Tabla 1).…”

“…35,36 Esta situación es contraria a lo encontrado en Norteamérica, donde se les da participación en los procesos administrativos de la empresa, se promueve estrategias para retener a las enfermeras con estímulos de competencias profesionales, capacitaciones y cumplimiento de indicadores de productividad y seguridad para los pacientes y para las enfermeras. 12,13,[37][38][39] El estudio reporta menor calificación en la escala de ajuste, al compararla con la de adaptación. En la escala de ajuste, las enfermeras inicialmente hacen una reflexión personal y una calibración entre lo que la institución les ofrece y los intereses personales y expectativas laborales, esto es determinante para el logro de una adaptación positiva en la institución y la adherencia a las políticas, normas y protocolos.…”

The Race

“…7 Data are then put into a secure Race Excel document. The document contains individual tabs for each metric.…”

Being more conscientious, collaborative, and confident in addressing patients' fears and anxieties: nurses' perspectives

“…Given their significant interactions with patients, nurses play an integral role in establishing therapeutic partnerships with patients. 10 Effective nurse-patient therapeutic partnerships have been shown to enhance satisfaction with nursing care 11 and quality of care. 12,13 As psychological care of patients is becoming more prominent within health care, there is growing recognition that patients living with chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often experience increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared to their healthy counterDovepress submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com This article was published in the following Dove Press journal: Nursing: Research and Reviews 17 August 2013 Number of times this article has been viewed parts.…”