ANSWER:
Quality Indicators in Nursing
Introduction
Several quality indicators are relevant to the field of nursing. These indicators can be used to measure the quality of care that nurses provide and the overall quality of the nursing profession. NSQIs are quality indicators specifically designed to measure the quality of care nurses provide (Gao et al., 2018). Several different NSQIs have been developed, covering a wide range of different aspects of nursing care. Some of the most commonly used NSQIs include indicators that measure the prevalence of pressure ulcers, the incidence of falls, and the rate of medication errors. The National Database of Nursing-Sensitive Quality Indicators (NDNQI) is a voluntary, confidential, online reporting system that uses retrospective chart audits to measure the incidence and prevalence of selected nursing-sensitive quality indicators in adult acute care hospitals. The NDNQI is sponsored by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and is managed by the ANA Enterprise.
Pressure ulcers are a quality indicator because they are a common complication among patients who are bedridden or have limited mobility. Pressure ulcers can be prevented by proper nursing care, including regular turning and repositioning of patients and using pressure-relieving devices (Jocelyn Chew et al., 2017). Pressure ulcers indicate that the patient is not being turned and repositioned often enough, and the patient is not using a pressure-relieving device. Both of these are essential aspects of nursing care, so pressure ulcers can be used as a quality indicator to assess the performance of nurses.
Importance of monitoring Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers are essential to monitoring since, if left untreated, pressure ulcers can lead to severe complications, including infection, bone, joint damage, and even death. Early detection and treatment are essential to preventing pressure ulcers and their complications. Several strategies can prevent pressure ulcers, including repositioning patients frequently, providing support surfaces, and maintaining good skin care. When pressure ulcers occur, prompt treatment is essential to promote healing and prevent further complications.
Impact of pressure ulcers on Quality of Care and Patient Safety
Pressure ulcers can significantly impact the quality of care and patient safety. It is because they can lead to several complications, including infections, hospitalization, and even death. While many factors contribute to the development of pressure ulcers, one of the most important is the lack of proper wound care (Jaul et al., 2018). It can have a significant impact on the quality of care that patients receive, as well as their safety. Patients who develop pressure ulcers are at an increased risk for infection. The ulcers can provide a portal for bacteria to enter the body. Once bacteria enter the body, they can cause several serious infections, including sepsis. Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when an infection spreads throughout the body. Patients who develop sepsis often require hospitalization and intensive care. In some cases, sepsis can lead to death.
Collection and Distribution of Data
Organizations can collect data on patient pressure ulcers by reviewing patient medical records, speaking with patients and their caregivers, and administering surveys. By observing how patients move and interact with their environment, it may be possible to identify potential hazards and make changes to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. Our organizations collect information about pressure ulcers by looking at medical records, interviewing patients, conducting surveys, and keeping an eye on how patients move and interact with their surroundings. This information enables us to track the progress of patients who have pressure ulcers and to spot trends and risk factors connected to falls.
Nurses’ Roles in supporting high-quality outcomes
Nurses are essential in supporting the accurate reporting of pressure ulcers and high-quality results. One way they can do this is by ensuring that data related to nursing interventions are accurately entered. It helps to ensure that the results of pressure ulcer prevention efforts are accurately reflected. For example, if a nurse notices a patient is developing a pressure ulcer, they can document this in the patient’s chart (Jaul et al., 2018). Additionally, nurses can work with other healthcare team members to ensure that all patients at risk of having pressure falls are adequately assessed and that any fall prevention measures are implemented correctly. Nurses play a vital role in supporting high-quality outcomes to prevent pressure ulcers. They are the frontline of care and have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of your patients. They promote best practices, educate patients and caregivers, and advocate for optimal care. Best practices to prevent pressure ulcers include using a risk assessment tool to identify at-risk patients, proper positioning and support surfaces, and providing skin care and nutrition.
There are a few different patient care technologies that can help to prevent pressure ulcers. These technologies include vibrating mattresses, unique cushions, and pressure-relieving devices. EHR can help reduce pressure ulcers by providing staff quick and easy access to a patient’s medical history. Vibrating mattresses can help to prevent pressure ulcers by providing a massage-like sensation that helps to stimulate blood flow and reduce pressure on the skin. Unique cushions can help to prevent pressure ulcers by providing support and padding to the areas of the body that are most susceptible to pressure ulcers. Pressure-relieving devices can help to prevent pressure ulcers by providing a mechanism for relieving pressure on the skin (Woo et al., 2019). These devices can be used on a bed, chair, or wheelchair and help distribute weight more evenly, reduce friction, and provide support. Overall, pressure ulcers are a severe concern in the nursing profession. They can have a significant impact on patient safety and quality of care. Nurses play a vital role in preventing and treating pressure ulcers. They can do this by promoting best practices, educating patients and caregivers, and advocating for optimal care.
References
Gao, J.-L., Liu, X.-M., Che, W.-F., & Xin, X. (2018). Construction of nursing-sensitive quality indicators for haemodialysis using Delphi Method. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(21-22), 3920–3930. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14607
Jaul, E., Barron, J., Rosenzweig, J. P., & Menczel, J. (2018). An overview of co-morbidities and the development of pressure ulcers among older adults. BMC Geriatrics, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0997-7
Jocelyn Chew, H.-S., Thiara, E., Lopez, V., & Shorey, S. (2017). Turning frequency in adult bedridden patients to prevent hospital-acquired pressure ulcer: A scoping review. International Wound Journal, 15(2), 225–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.12855
Woo, K. Y., Sears, K., Almost, J., Wilson, R., Whitehead, M., & VanDenKerkhof, E. G. (2019). Exploration of pressure ulcer and related skin problems across the spectrum of health care settings in Ontario using administrative data. International Wound Journal, 14(1), 24–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.12535
QUESTION:
Select a single nursing-sensitive quality indicator that you see as important to a selected type of health care system. Choose from the following list: Pressure Ulcers
Instructions
For this assessment, imagine you are a member of a Quality Improvement Council at any type of health care system, whether acute, ambulatory, home health, managed care, et cetera. Your Council has identified that newly hired nurses would benefit from comprehensive training on the importance of nursing-sensitive quality indicators. The Council would like the training to address how this information is collected and disseminated across the organization. It would also like the training to describe the role nurses have in accurate reporting and high-quality results.
The Council indicates a recording is preferable to a written fact sheet due to the popularity of audio blogs. In this way, new hires can listen to the tutorial on their own time using their phone or other device.
As a result of this need, you offer to create an audio tutorial orienting new hires to these topics. You know that you will need a script to guide your audio recording. You also plan to incorporate into your script the insights you learned from conducting an interview with an authority on quality monitoring and the use of technology to collect and report quality indicator data.
You determine that you will cover the following topics in your audio tutorial script:
Introduction: Nursing-Sensitive Quality Indicator
What is the National Database of Nursing-Sensitive Quality Indicators?
What are nursing-sensitive quality indicators?
Which particular quality indicator did you select to address in your tutorial?
Why is this quality indicator important to monitor?
Be sure to address the impact of this indicator on the quality of care and patient safety.
Why do new nurses need to be familiar with this particular quality indicator when providing patient care?
Collection and Distribution of Quality Indicator Data
According to your interview and other resources, how does your organization collect data on this quality indicator?
How does the organization disseminate aggregate data?
What role do nurses play in supporting accurate reporting and high-quality results?
As an example, consider the importance of accurately entering data regarding nursing interventions.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Describe nurses' and the interdisciplinary team's role in informatics with a focus on electronic health information and patient care technology to support decision making.
Describe the interdisciplinary team’s role in collecting and reporting quality indicator data to enhance patient safety, patient care outcomes, and organizational performance reports.
Competency 3: Evaluate the impact of patient care technologies on desired outcomes.
Explain how a health care organization uses nursing-sensitive quality indicators to enhance patient safety, patient care outcomes, and organizational performance reports.
Competency 4: Recommend the use of a technology to enhance quality and safety standards for patients.
Justify how a nursing-sensitive quality indicator establishes evidence-based practice guidelines for nurses to follow when using patient care technologies to enhance patient safety, satisfaction, and outcomes.
Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly communication to facilitate use of health information and patient care technologies.
Deliver a professional, effective audio tutorial on a selected quality indicator that engages new nurses and motivates them to accurately report quality data in a timely fashion.
Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references. References have to be within the last 5 years (after 10/6/2017).
