Topic 1: Quality improvement in healthcare/ nursing
The concept of quality improvement (QI) in healthcare entails continuous and systematic actions aimed at achieving measurable improvements in services and patients’ health outcomes (Iqbal, Syed-Abdul & Li, 2016). The key focus of QI is on processes, clinical, systems, satisfaction, functional, and cost outcomes of targeted patient groups. Typically, QI initiatives are not intended to create standards of nursing practice, but they do contribute to understanding the best nursing practices and processes of care (Iqbal, Syed-Abdul & Li, 2016). It is widely acknowledged that QI efforts in healthcare are not designed to yield scientific knowledge, but instead act as management tools to enhance outcomes and processes within the healthcare setting. Recent efforts have been targeted on improving care through collaborating with clinical micro-systems such as patients’ families and their care teams. To enhance and sustain quality, efficiency, and safety, nurses blend change, analysis, and measurement into their activities to re-create care in the context of these clinical micro-systems (Iqbal, Syed-Abdul & Li, 2016). Generally, QI initiatives seek to examine clinical processes, address clinical issues, and employ particular indicators to assess clinical performance. Practitioners collect and analyze data to gain an in-depth understanding of the processes and the associated outcomes. They use the results of the data analysis to achieve and sustain ongoing improvement by continuously monitoring and improving nursing activities.
Topic 2: Evidenced-Based Practice in Nursing
In nursing, evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial to give patients high-quality care, which optimizes their health status. The term evidence-based medicine emerged in the 80s to describe the approach that relied on scientific proof to determine the best care for patients (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2017). Over time, the term changed to evidence-based practice because healthcare practitioners, apart from physicians, acknowledged the relevance of scientific basis in making clinical decisions. Currently, there are numerous definitions of the term evidence-based practice in nursing. However, the most widely used definition is, the conscientious, judicious, and explicit use of the present best practice in decision making regarding patients’ care” (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2017). Today, experts are talking about evidence-based nursing practice as a process by which nurses use current evidence to make decisions regarding a particular group of patients. EBP assumes that nurses can read critique, synthesize study findings, and interpret current EBP guidelines in clinical practice.
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References
Iqbal, U., Syed-Abdul, S., & Li, Y. C. (January 01, 2016). Work environment and quality improvement in healthcare. International Journal for Quality in Health Care : Journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, 28, 2.)
Mackey, A., &Bassendowski, S. (January 01, 2017). The History of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Education and Practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 33, 1, 51-55.
