Introduction
Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are pioneers in offering public preventative care services and are frequently in charge of primary care (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019). Therefore, they interact with all patients, from pediatric to adult populations. They are mandated to provide the best and appropriate medication and care for all patients by the State’s law. Patient safety is critical in ensuring they are correctly diagnosed and get the proper medication and prescription for their illnesses (Heinen et al., 2019). This paper will discuss how the advanced practice nurse can facilitate and develop a road map for change in patient care. The paper will further identify some patient safety issues and how they can be addressed.
Identifying the Problem
The problem is ensuring patient safety in all healthcare providers’ facilities. Patient safety is essential because, without proper care, there are deaths of patients who were either misdiagnosed or offered the wrong medication for their illnesses (Park, 2021). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the increasing complexity of healthcare systems and the ensuing spike in patient injury in healthcare institutions gave rise to the medical speciality of patient safety (World Health Organization, 2021). Patient safety tries to avert and minimize hazards, errors, and patient damage during healthcare delivery. Continuous enhancement founded on lessons from mistakes and unfavourable circumstances is a tenet of the discipline.
Patient Safety Concerns
Medication Errors and Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI)
According to the FDA, over 1.3 million people suffer injury from drug errors and (HAIs) each year, and an individual dies from one error on average every day. Medication errors continue to occur despite better education, electronic medical records and safety precautions (Chugh et al., 2022). Drug mistakes are common, especially when patients have identical names; the nurse could pick up an incorrect drug. Pneumonia, bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and urinary tract infections are common infections contracted in hospitals (HAI). Tragically, simple exposure to dangerous microorganisms can put patients at risk (Nishimura, 2022). Sadly, if appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and handwashing instructions are neglected, patients might be subjected to dangerous pathogens only by healthcare professionals.
Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Cycle
PDSA cycle model is a strategy for enhancing quality. It is well known for being progressive and based on evidence, and it has been effectively used in several patient safety programs (Collins et al., 2021). First, plan by identifying patient safety is a problem that needs to be addressed. They are setting specific goals like ensuring a 75% improvement in patient safety and developing an action plan such as double-checking the patient’s details before issuing any medication in the hospital systems. Lastly, baseline data that evaluates the current State of patient safety. Second, it allows healthcare providers and nurses to implement the changes made in the planning process. Also, ensure the healthcare providers understand their roles and responsibilities to improve patient safety. Healthcare providers can track the consequences of the modifications and ensure they align with the desired aims; data should be regularly collected during the phase of execution.
Third, the study phase where the data gathered throughout the do period is analyzed to determine how the modifications will affect patient safety. Contrast the outcomes with the starting point data to ascertain whether advancement has been developed. They also determine what went well and where difficulties or unforeseen problems occurred (Braithwaite, 2022). For learning and improvement, it is essential to comprehend the advantages and drawbacks. Lastly, the act phase Implements modifications and improvements to the strategy in light of the data evaluation and insights discovered during the study phase. This could entail adapting initiatives, removing recognized obstacles, or accelerating successful adjustments.
How to Facilitate the Change and Create Buy-In from The Health Care Professionals?
First, identifying influential healthcare providers, especially leaders passionate about patient safety. Obtaining support from the healthcare organization’s highest leadership would be evident that patient safety is paramount when they embrace and approve the patient safety program. Second, ensure collaboration with all stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. Include ADNs in patient safety improvement planning and decision-making processes (Harris & Russ, 2021). Participate in patient safety-related debates, working groups, and boards with them. Third, ensure that ADNs are adequately educated and trained on patient safety tenets, the particular change project, and any new equipment or procedures. Attend to their issues and educational requirements. Lastly, establish transparent and open lines of communication. Inform healthcare experts on developments, results, and achievements frequently.
Possible Resistance to The Change That Would Need to Be Overcome
First is the loss of autonomy, which gives patients enough information to make choices for themselves, following their ideas and principles, even if those choices are inconsistent with the nurse’s. Another aspect of autonomy is adhering to the nursing practice parameters established by institutional and governmental regulations (Carayon et al., 2020). Therefore, to overcome this, nurses would need to be involved in the decision-making process where they can agree on what will work for them. Second, there is a lack of resources, such as funds and staff, to implement the changes. To overcome this, ensure the resources are allotted for implementing the patient safety changes, including staffing, tools, and orientation. If more money is required, argue for it and show how it will help the patients and the employees. Lastly, resistance to technology is an issue that could affect patient safety. For instance, EHRs were developed to reduce time and improve patient data collection.
Change Road Map for The Team
First, it identifies patient safety issues and objectives by evaluating the current state of patient safety at the healthcare facilities. This entails compiling data, spotting patterns, and comprehending the size and significance of the issue. Second, planning and designing the change methods through collaboration with the patient representatives and healthcare staff. Also, examine the most reliable data, recommendations, and industry standards on the patient safety concern (Fitzsimons, 2021). Third, implementing and monitoring the changes through giving healthcare workers in-depth instruction on the newest procedures, tools, or techniques. Also, plan frequent team meetings and updates to discuss issues, get opinions, and implement any necessary modifications. Fourth, evaluating and continuously enhancing the information gathered throughout the implementation process to determine the effect on patient safety results and metrics. Lastly, sustainability is achieved by creating sustainable strategies that describe the foreseeable maintenance of the improvements. This entails constant instruction, observation, and support of new procedures.
Effective Communication
The primary objective in every hospital environment is patient safety. Therefore, the advanced practice nurse must interact with other healthcare providers successfully to reduce poor patient safety in hospitals (Figueiredo & Potra, 2019). Effective communication improves the standard of care, makes the emergency room run more smoothly, and, most significantly, prioritizes the safety of the patients. In addition, effective communication is essential to successfully influence choices and implement patient safety changes within healthcare institutions. It is the foundation of managing changes and performs several essential duties during the transformation process.
Conclusion
Patient safety is critical in any healthcare environment because it ensures that patients get the proper support and their patient’s needs are met. Also, it ensures that healthcare providers have the proper diagnosis of an illness and issues the right treatment and medication. There are some patient safety concerns, such as medication errors where a nurse may offer the wrong medication to a patient, especially if they have identical names. Also, hospital-acquired illnesses may lead to death, especially when the patients lack proper PPEs. Advanced practice nurses need to be involved in the decision-making process to enhance patient safety, where they can offer their opinions of the current state and what may work for them.
References
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