Quality Improvement Strategies II

This week, I expected to learn more about using data as a means of being able to measure quality.  I also was wanting to learn more about the variation that exists within measuring quality and the data that exists and how to differentiate between common cause variation and special cause variation.  Lastly, I was expecting to learn about the tools that are used by quality improvement teams.  

I have come to find that there are a number of ways to actually do quality improvement strategies that gets to actual improvement in quality.  There are, and will always be, pros and cons to the types of strategies that are implemented and you just have to choose the best option for the specific situation and the specific entity that is trying to implement it, whether that is a specific industry, such as healthcare, or a specific hospital within healthcare.  

The discussion was a good way to look at the types of quality improvement strategies as we look at specifically helping patients and in particular a burn patient.  I like the critical thinking that took place to be able to not only know the types of things that go into the disease process or care for a burn patient, but also the ways that quality improvement strategies can be implemented for this patient and others.  I also liked looking at the critical thinking and case study assignments.  A fall is something that each and every nurse will have to deal with at some point or another while working at the hospital.  Hopefully, it isn't often, but it is nearly impossible to get away from it completely.  The case study was a real world situation that can be applied to myself and others and look at how I would really attempt to make a change in my working environment.  

This information is very important to me as a new nurse.  I am always looking for ways to move forward within nursing and to help the company that I am working for to find things that help to advance not only my company but also the role of nursing.  I am always looking for ways to move up in a company or structure and so having this as information for better quality will greatly influence me in this end. 

This class has really helped me to open up and look at things differently within the hospital.  I am currently part of the patient care council in my facility and specifically, the council over quality and safety.  I have been able to look at the information in a different light as I look to improve the quality improvement strategies in my hospital.  I really like the way that the material was presented to be learned, but also the material itself.