NUR 630 Performance Improvement and Quality in Health Care Syllabus

The course will examine models of quality improvement and performance in healthcare. Students will learn how to differentiate quality measures while applying process improvement techniques and industry-standard tools to improve safety and positively affect financial performance and patient outcomes.

Topic 1: Differentiating Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Research

Class Introductions

Students will introduce themselves and seek to know their peers taking the course.

Topic 1 DQ 1

The student will assume the role of a quality team in a facility with multiple patient falls. They will identify the best strategy to solve the issue.

Topic 1 DQ 2

The paper will ascertain if integrating evidence-based practice is a cookbook approach. It should also use references and examples to support claims.

Visual Model

For the Visual Model assignment, students will create a visual model that differentiates research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement.

Topic 2: Health Care Culture

Topic 2 DQ 1

The students will use a survey web page and choose the most appropriate SOP for their workplace. They will also complete the survey at their facility and discuss the results. Lastly, they will identify changes they suggest from survey outcomes.

Topic 2 DQ 2

The students will reflect on a situation where two nurses make a medication error that negatively impacts the patient while the other does not. Then, they will ascertain if the two nurses should be disciplined similarly and why. Lastly, they will explain how the issue should be solved in a just culture.

Health Care Culture

The assignment will discuss healthcare culture while describing how CWV can be utilized to grow ethical practices. The 1000-1250-word essay will also discuss the relevant factors related to healthcare culture.

Topic 3: Performance Improvement Theory and Models

Topic 3 DQ 1

Students will reflect on a situation whereby their unit has high rates of blood administration errors. They will explain if the errors are likely caused by system or personal failure. Lastly, they will identify the performance improvement theory to address the issue.

Topic 3 DQ 2

The paper will identify an issue they have gone through in their workplace. Also, it will explain the steps to be taken to solve the issue.

Topic 4: Quality Models: Lean, Six Sigma, 5S

Topic 4 DQ 1

The students will assume a role in the operating room team. Then, they will select a quality model and explain how it can be utilized to reduce complication rates.

Topic 4 DQ 2

The student will assume the role of a nurse leader. They will then use the Six Sigma approach to standardize the discharge procedure. Then, they will explain their starting point.

CLC – Quality Models

The paper will examine students’ knowledge of quality models. The students will present the required information in 12-15 slides.

Topic 5: Outcome Measures vs. Process Measures

Topic 5 DQ 1

Students will differentiate between process and outcome measures and identify the most relevant and why.

Topic 5 DQ 2

The paper will identify the approach that the student could select to aid in the measurement and determination of outcomes. It will also describe the most appropriate approach while explaining the reason behind the choice.

Outcome and Process Measures

The assignment will consider process measures and outcomes that can be utilized for CQI. It should consist of 1000-1250 words and follow APA guidelines and assessment rubric.

Topic 6: Overview of Quality Data

Topic 6 DQ 1

The paper will differentiate between secondary and primary data. It will also explain how either of the data sources can be utilized to drive CQI. It should also provide examples to support claims.

Topic 6 DQ 2

The assignment will describe two limitations of using secondary and primary data. It will also explain how knowing about the limitations can aid in improving CQI work in future.

Topic 7: Performance Improvement Tools and Reportable Metrics

Topic 7 DQ 1

The assessment will identify two stakeholder agency reporting sources. It will then explain how the external reporting groups impact CQI.

Topic 7 DQ 2

The student will present data gathered by the administrative group. They will further identify the format they would use and why. Finally, they will describe the kind of information they would collect.

Hospital-Associated Infections Data

Students will review a scenario in the portal to evaluate healthcare information on hospital-based infections and identify the best techniques to present the data to stakeholders. The assignment should be presented in 12-15 slides. The slides should cover the conclusions drawn for every quality measure and trends for all quality measures. It should also compare the measures with the national benchmark. Further, it will identify quality measures that should be prioritized and why. Again, it will develop a quality improvement metric and measures that grow care procedures, outcomes, and the patient’s situation concerning the opportunity area. Lastly, it will explain how the student can monitor the metric and utilize gathered data for improvement.

Students should be keen to follow the assignment rubric to ensure they do not miss any vital instruction.

Topic 8: Driving and Sustaining Change

Topic 8 DQ 1

The paper will identify the two elements students believe are vital in sustaining change and why.

Topic 8 DQ 2

The assignment will select two vital elements of the just culture that students feel are hard to achieve and suggest a strategy to ensure they are achievable.

Overview of Quality in Health Care

The Overview of Quality in Health Care assignment will be 1250-1500 words and will refer to a situation that students have encountered. Students will choose a patient safety or quality concern and apply course teachings to solve it. The paper will briefly describe the issue and explain how PI, research or EBP can be used to solve the issue. It will further explain the QI or PI process students could use and why. Again, it should describe data sources, outcomes and process data. Moreover, it should explain the process of data capturing and dissemination. Lastly, it should discuss the firm culture considerations vital for successful work.

Students should also follow the provided assignment rubric and APA writing guidelines.