Table of Contents
Description
The purpose of this project is to identify and analyze a quality issue in your practice setting, ending with a possible solution and plan for implementation of that solution. As a group, you will write a paper and create a presentation on one of the following topics, which are consistent with nurse sensitive indicators:
- Bloodstream infections
- Falls with injuries
- Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers
- Pediatric pain assessment, intervention, and reassessment (AIR)
- Pediatric peripheral intravenous infiltration rate
- Psychiatric physical/sexual assault rate
- Use of restraints
- Urinary tract infections
- Ventilator-acquired pneumonia
- Voluntary nurse turnover
Objectives
After successfully completing this project, you will be able to:
- Analyze the current literature regarding this topic.
- Create a solution and a plan for its implementation.
- Disseminate the implementation plan in written and verbal forms.
- Gather institutional data regarding the issue.
- Identify a quality issue in nursing practice.
Timeline for the Project
Week 1
From the preceding list, select a topic of interest to you and a backup. This is a complete/incomplete assignment. Submit in Assignment 1.2: Topic for Quality Project.
Week 2
The course instructor will determine the groups based on the topics selected by Week 2, Day 1.
This week, meet and discuss your plans for completing the project, including who will be completing each aspect of the project. Because this is a group project, you can divide up the tasks. More than one person can do a task, depending on the complexity of the topic and the institution or agency. You can meet in a synchronous format or [Groups] Discussion 2.2: Meet Your Group.
The paper is a group project, so it would be helpful to divide the writing of the sections, but do assign a final editor to make sure that it is coherent and comes from one voice. The editor might also be the person who does the final formatting for submission.
Note: Both the paper and presentation will be a group grade, meaning that each person in the group will receive the same grade.
Weeks 3 and 4
Conduct a thorough literature search on the topic. There is no maximum number of references required, just a complete review of the pertinent literature. At the end of Week 4, submit an APA-formatted reference list of all articles to be used in the final paper and presentation. (Do not submit copies of the articles.) Be sure to review the rubric. Submit in [Groups] Assignment 4.2: Quality Project References.
Begin to gather data for your paper and presentation at your institution. Some institutions can be reluctant to share data because of confidentiality concerns. It is important for individuals at the hospital or agency to know that this is for educational purposes only and will not be shared outside the class. In addition, the facility’s name will not be shared. The data can be collected on your unit or by a centralized quality management department. It is your responsibility to find out where the data are and who to contact to gain access to that data. You might want to start with your nurse manager. If you have difficulty getting access to the data, contact your instructor for further recommendations.
In [Groups] Discussion 3.2: Individual and Group Strengths, analyze your group’s overall strengths in terms of executing, influencing, relationship building, and strategic thinking.
Week 5
Complete a process map of your issue. This can be generated by way of a computer, a drawing, or a picture. It will be included as an appendix for your paper and must be briefly explained within the narrative of your paper.
Submit in Assignment 5.1: Quality Project: Process Map.
Week 6
Work on your paper and presentation.
Each person in the group must take an active role in preparing and delivering the presentation. All group members, including the student recording the presentation, must contribute to the slides and the script. One student will record the presentation in Kaltura using the group’s Microsoft PowerPoint file and script.
Week 7
By Day 7, one member of the group should submit the paper in Assignment 7.1: Quality Project: Paper; and the presentation, script, and slides in Assignment 7.2: Quality Project: Presentation and in Discussion Board 7.2: Quality Project: Presentation.
Week 8
Review another group’s project and submit in Assignment 8.1: Review Another Group’s Project.
Rubrics
Reference List
- Thoroughness of reference list: 15 points
- Appropriateness of reference list: 15 points
- Use of proper APA format: 10 points
- Total: 40 points
Paper
- Define the problem
- How do you know it’s a problem? 10 points
- What is its significance to patient care? 10 points
- How long has it been going on? 5 points
- What is the gap between what is happening and what is desired? 10 points
- What are your goals and objectives (short and long term)? 10 points
- Buy-in: who and why? 5 points
- Strategies for buy-in: 10 points
- Process map: 15 points
- Measure/data collection
- What data must be collected? 15 points
- Ideal target/benchmark. Why? 10 points
- Data collection process. Who will assist you? 15 points
- Analyze
- Analysis: 10 points
- How to present the data: 10 points
- Improve
- Proposed solutions: 15 points
- Select solution
- Why are some better than others?
- Why choose one over another?
- What factors considered: people, resources, and politics? 20 points
- Implementation plan: 15 points
- Communication plan: 15 points
- Control
- How will the change be sustained? 15 points
- Grammar and format
- Coherent, clear, grammar, and APA format: 20 points
- Total: 235 points
Presentation
- Clarity: Audience is able to understand the problem and methodology used to analyze the problem: 25 points
- Creativity in presentation: 15 points
- Ability to engage the audience: 10 points
- Each member of the group participated: 15 points
- Presentation style (for example, no hesitations or use of “um”): 15 points
- Total: 80 points