Quality improvement (QI)
GUIDELINES FOR QI ASSIGNMENT
Quality improvement (QI) can be defined as the effort to better patient outcomes, system performance, and professional development (Batalden & Davidoff, 2007). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has challenged professionals to improve healthcare quality, with quality described using the following six domains: safety, timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity and patient-centeredness. These quality aims provide a framework for focusing improvement efforts. The unrelenting engagement of all providers is required to transform healthcare. APNs are well positioned to lead quality initiatives by virtue of their advanced knowledge and preparation. To effectively lead quality improvement requires understanding that organizations are complex adaptive systems; dynamic, unpredictable, and are composed of moving parts. Knowledge of theoretical underpinnings of change (theory explicating the phenomenon of human behavioral change) is foundational to successful improvement. A wide variety of QI models, tools, and methods are available to guide the APN in facilitating improvement.
For this assignment, select a practice improvement issue within your organizational system and within the realm of your practice area. Using the grading rubric as a guide, develop a quality improvement plan to address the identified issue. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate knowledge of the essential elements of quality improvement, with change theory as an underpinning for the process. Students are not expected to implement the plan; however, the process for implementation and evaluation is addressed as part of the planning process.
The paper should be carefully written in a formal style, based on primary sources, provide an integration of ideas, and be 4-6 pages in length, excluding title page & reference list. Organized flow, logical progression of ideas, and clarity in thought are essential. Please use headings to separate content.
Grading Rubric
Criteria
Points
Introduction paragraph (one paragraph). Introduce a practice issue appropriate for a quality improvement project facilitated by a MSN or DNP prepared nurse. There must be a thesis statement at the end of the paragraph that tells the reader the purpose of paper and what will be discussed.
1/1
Briefly provide the background/context of the practice issue. Integrate at least two of the six dimensions of quality defined by the IOM.
3/3
Discuss a theoretical underpinning of change (Lewin, Rogers, Kotter, Havelock, Proschaska & Diclemente, Bandura) for the proposed quality initiative. Using the selected change theory, describe the profound importance of staff engagement, empowerment, commitment, and ownership of practice improvement initiatives/projects.
4/4
Describe how at least one improvement tool (flow chart, root cause analysis, cause and effect diagram, FMEA, etc.) can be used to better understand the practice issue.
4/4
Select a model (e.g., PDSA, FADE, Six Sigma, TCAB, TeamSTEPPs) for the quality improvement project. Describe the model and summarize the practice improvement initiative/intervention(s) using the steps of the model.
6/6
Discuss the resources (human, structural, financial) required for this organizational systems change
2/2
Propose evaluation method(s) of quality measures. (What qualitative and quantitative methods are identified to determine effectiveness of quality initiative?) Identify both process and outcomes performance measures for determining effectiveness of your intervention(s). Identify at least two visual displays for data reporting of outcome data (e.g. histogram, run chart, pie chart, bar graph, etc.). How would qualitative findings contribute to the evaluation of this quality initiative?
4/4
Conclusions: Summarize the essential points of paper (one paragraph).
1/1
Total
25/25
Deductions:
Papers over the page limit will be penalized by a disregard of content over the page limit.
Scholarship Expectations:
A lack of Scholarship deduction of up to 20% of the total point value of the assignment will be applied to address such deficiencies as APA errors, Title or Reference page errors, a lack of clarity and conciseness in writing, grammatical and spelling errors, exceeding the prescribed page limit, and poor overall writing skills. For example, an assignment worth 15 points could have a maximum lack of scholarship deduction of 3 points (20% x 15). The amount of the deduction will be at the discretion of the faculty member.
You are clinical nurse scholars in the making. You are the nurses with advanced education/DNPs and members of the highly literate profession of advanced practice nursing who will chart the future of health care. Good writing ability is as much a required skill for nurses in advanced practice as performing clinical functions. Therefore, precision and scholarship is expected in all assignments.

Quality improvement (QI)
GUIDELINES FOR QI ASSIGNMENT
Quality improvement (QI) can be defined as the effort to better patient outcomes, system performance, and professional development (Batalden & Davidoff, 2007). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has challenged professionals to improve healthcare quality, with quality described using the following six domains: safety, timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity and patient-centeredness. These quality aims provide a framework for focusing improvement efforts. The unrelenting engagement of all providers is required to transform healthcare. APNs are well positioned to lead quality initiatives by virtue of their advanced knowledge and preparation. To effectively lead quality improvement requires understanding that organizations are complex adaptive systems; dynamic, unpredictable, and are composed of moving parts. Knowledge of theoretical underpinnings of change (theory explicating the phenomenon of human behavioral change) is foundational to successful improvement. A wide variety of QI models, tools, and methods are available to guide the APN in facilitating improvement.
For this assignment, select a practice improvement issue within your organizational system and within the realm of your practice area. Using the grading rubric as a guide, develop a quality improvement plan to address the identified issue. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate knowledge of the essential elements of quality improvement, with change theory as an underpinning for the process. Students are not expected to implement the plan; however, the process for implementation and evaluation is addressed as part of the planning process.
The paper should be carefully written in a formal style, based on primary sources, provide an integration of ideas, and be 4-6 pages in length, excluding title page & reference list. Organized flow, logical progression of ideas, and clarity in thought are essential. Please use headings to separate content.
Grading Rubric
Criteria
Points
Introduction paragraph (one paragraph). Introduce a practice issue appropriate for a quality improvement project facilitated by a MSN or DNP prepared nurse. There must be a thesis statement at the end of the paragraph that tells the reader the purpose of paper and what will be discussed.
1/1
Briefly provide the background/context of the practice issue. Integrate at least two of the six dimensions of quality defined by the IOM.
3/3
Discuss a theoretical underpinning of change (Lewin, Rogers, Kotter, Havelock, Proschaska & Diclemente, Bandura) for the proposed quality initiative. Using the selected change theory, describe the profound importance of staff engagement, empowerment, commitment, and ownership of practice improvement initiatives/projects.
4/4
Describe how at least one improvement tool (flow chart, root cause analysis, cause and effect diagram, FMEA, etc.) can be used to better understand the practice issue.
4/4
Select a model (e.g., PDSA, FADE, Six Sigma, TCAB, TeamSTEPPs) for the quality improvement project. Describe the model and summarize the practice improvement initiative/intervention(s) using the steps of the model.
6/6
Discuss the resources (human, structural, financial) required for this organizational systems change
2/2
Propose evaluation method(s) of quality measures. (What qualitative and quantitative methods are identified to determine effectiveness of quality initiative?) Identify both process and outcomes performance measures for determining effectiveness of your intervention(s). Identify at least two visual displays for data reporting of outcome data (e.g. histogram, run chart, pie chart, bar graph, etc.). How would qualitative findings contribute to the evaluation of this quality initiative?
4/4
Conclusions: Summarize the essential points of paper (one paragraph).
1/1
Total
25/25
Deductions:
Papers over the page limit will be penalized by a disregard of content over the page limit.
Scholarship Expectations:
A lack of Scholarship deduction of up to 20% of the total point value of the assignment will be applied to address such deficiencies as APA errors, Title or Reference page errors, a lack of clarity and conciseness in writing, grammatical and spelling errors, exceeding the prescribed page limit, and poor overall writing skills. For example, an assignment worth 15 points could have a maximum lack of scholarship deduction of 3 points (20% x 15). The amount of the deduction will be at the discretion of the faculty member.
You are clinical nurse scholars in the making. You are the nurses with advanced education/DNPs and members of the highly literate profession of advanced practice nursing who will chart the future of health care. Good writing ability is as much a required skill for nurses in advanced practice as performing clinical functions. Therefore, precision and scholarship is expected in all assignments.