Improving Quality and Patient Safety

Article summary 

In her article, Karen Hill explores an issue that is central to nursing practice. This article examines the role that nursing experience plays in enhancing patient safety while improving the quality of services that nurses deliver. Hill begins with a description of the journey that nurses take to become experts. She notes that while education plays a crucial role, exposure to the real nursing environment is more important (Hill, 2010). She argues that nurses who have worked with patients gain skills and competencies that cannot be taught in class. She then proceeds to outline the differences between novice and expert nurses. According to Hill, expert nurses are able to demonstrate cue recognition. This means that while novice nurses rely on such tools as diagnoses, expert nurses can use their intuition to determine the issue ailing a patient. Hill also examines the relationship that exists between patient outcomes and the experience level of a nurse. She argues that the more experienced a nurse is, the higher the outcomes of the patients (Hill, 2010). This argument underscores the function that nurse experience and expertise serves in safeguarding the wellbeing of patients. In the article, Hill notes that there are certain barriers that cause facilities to lose experienced nurses. These barriers include the failure to provide nurses with education support and inadequate pay (Hill, 2010). Other forces that cause nurses to leave an institution are ineffective leadership and stress. Hill concludes her article with an overview of some of the measures that individual nurses and institutions can implement to maintain nursing expertise. These measures include encouraging continuous learning and creating a career portfolio that guarantees financial security (Hill, 2010). Hill also advises that institutions should embrace succession planning and adopt phased retirement. Overall, Hill’s article offers insights into the need for experience among nurses and the measures that medical facilities can implement to enhance nurse experience and maintain expertise.

Personal opinion 

My personal experiences confirm the insights that Hill shares in her article. I have observed that experienced nurses are better placed to deliver care. Their years of experience and wealth of expertise allows them to prioritize patient safety and strict adherence to established procedures. This is not to say that fresh nurses compromise patient safety and are unable to deliver quality care. I know a few young nurses whose record with patients is impressive. These nurses have committed immense effort to gaining new perspectives and skills. I agree with Hill that institutions and individual nurses need to adopt the measures that she recommends if they are to improve patient outcomes. I particularly feel that it is important for institutions to adopt measures that facilitate skills transfer. This will ensure that even when a nurse exits an organization, they do not leave with their skills and experiences.

Related topics 

The course reading offers insights that are related to the issues that Hill addresses in her article. The development of the nursing profession is one of the issues that the course reading explores. The reading describes the long and complex journey that the profession has been on (Ellis & Hartley, 2012). Nursing has developed from the primitive and ineffective profession that it was centuries ago to a field that is composed of competent individuals who safeguard patient wellbeing. The history of nursing is relevant to Hill’s article because it underscores the importance of experience. As nursing developed through history, nurses gained better skills and deeper knowledge. As a result, an improvement in patient outcomes has been witnessed (Ellis & Hartley, 2012). Another issue that concerns the development of the profession is nurse shortage. The reading notes how many facilities are severely understaffed. The nurse shortage can be blamed on experienced nurses leaving institutions and failing to transfer their skills and expertise. Faithfulness in practice is yet another issue that the core reading explores in its examination of the development of the nursing profession (Ellis & Hartley, 2012). The reading challenges learners to follow in the steps of Nightingale who committed herself to the wellbeing of her patients. Faithfulness is important as it reminds nurses that they should take all necessary steps such as receiving further education as they seek to enhance patient outcomes and quality of services.

Nursing education is another issue that the reading examines. The reading makes it clear that education in a traditional class setting is important as it provides learners with the theoretical frameworks they need for practice (Ellis & Hartley, 2012). The reading also recognizes the importance of licensing. Licensing ensures that only qualified and competent nurses are allowed to interact with patients. The reading also highlights the need for practical education. While teaching on theoretical elements is important, it does not equip nurses with the practical skills that they need. These issues are related to Hill’s article because they all identify the vital role that education, training and experience play.

In chapter 4 of the reading, focus is given to how the nursing profession can realize its goals. The chapter argues that nurses should prepare themselves from the many employment opportunities that are available today (Ellis & Hartley, 2012). Acquiring skills and experience is one of the measures that nurses can adopt as they prepare for the opportunities. The chapter also challenges nurses to develop personal career goals while seeking professional accreditation. The chapter also laments that the new graduate does not seem adequately prepared for the challenges of the workplace (Ellis & Hartley, 2012). Essentially, this chapter echoes the issues that Hill raises in her article. The chapter and Hill’s article underscore the need for nurses to make the acquisition of skills and experience a personal initiative.

Implications for new nurses 

The issues that the course reading and Hill’s article address present implications for new nurses. Nurses who have just left school need to understand that the training that they have received is not enough. They need to acquire skills and perspectives through experience. Another implication is that the new nurses should understand that they hold the key to addressing the skills shortage that the profession is grappling with. These nurses need to demonstrate initiative in their quest to gain experience. The new nurses should also recognize that patience is needed for the acquisition of expertise. It is impossible for a fresh nurse to match the performance of a veteran who has been delivering services for years. Overall, the course reading and Hill’s article challenges the nursing profession to do all that is required to retain nursing expertise.

In conclusion, the nursing profession is crucial for the safety and wellbeing of patients. The experiences and expertise that nurses possess allows medical facilities to attend to the needs of their patients. It is indeed unfortunate that many nurses leave the profession without transferring their skills. Nurses and institutions should adopt strategies that facilitate the transfer of skills. Educational institutions should also join the effort to enhance the skills that nurses possess. This collaboration will further enhance patient outcomes while improving the quality of nursing services.

References

Ellis, J. R. & Hartley, C. L. (2012). Nursing in Today’s World. Trends, Issues and Management. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Hill, K. S. (2010). Improving Quality and Patient Safety by Retaining Nursing Expertise. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 15 (3), 1-9.