The NDNQI is a national catalog that offers annual and quarterly reporting of the outcome, process, and structure indicators to assess nursing care at the department level (Lockhart, 2018). These indicators allow students to identify specific nursing staff aspects that can affect patient outcomes. Nursing-sensitive indicators have contributed to a growing focus on preventive actions and breakthroughs in clinical practice and therapeutic options (Ju et al., 2018). Some of the nursing-sensitive quality indicators selected to evaluate nursing care include quality and staffing measures for healthcare-related infections and nursing hours per patient day. Nurses must understand indicators related to patient safety to enhance their ability to make the best judgments that enhance patient outcomes (Grove et al., 2018). Analyzing the patient safety indicators at the hospital can assist new nurses in capitalizing on their strong points while boosting their weak spots.
Effects of Quality Indicators
Nurse staffing is a critical consideration in determining care quality since it influences patient and hospital performance outcomes. Besides, rates of healthcare-associated infections are progressively being used to evaluate clinical systems’ quality of care (Ju et al., 2018). The indictor has significantly contributed to the reduction of healthcare costs. Moreover, patients’ morbidity and mortality rates are decreasing due to the consideration of quality indicators.
Managing Quality
The quality of care is currently reported as a constituent of the overall medical system performance evaluations at the hospital where the nurse I interviewed operates. Quality is also becoming more prominent in topics about information and communication technologies used in clinical nursing practices (Ju et al., 2018).
Technology Application in Healthcare
Hospitals have become reliant on technology-based systems, including public health reporting, out of office data transfers, patient portals, and care solutions (Tubaishat, 2018). Nurses and other staff members who use technology will acknowledge and process the obtained information, which will form the basis and framework for hospital decisions to be made. Technology shortens the duration of nursing quality control and improves productivity (Tubaishat, 2018).
Informatics Expertise
The hospital has an electronic health record system that improves patient care management by reducing medication errors, avoiding unnecessary investigations, and increasing communication and engagement among caregivers, other health care providers, and patients. The electronic health record system enables healthcare professionals to ensure medication compliance and enhance patient safety (Tubaishat, 2018). Another approach to gathering data on patient safety indicators is by conducting surveys on patients and their families, including the completion of questionnaires and interviews after service. Their feedback is critical in informing areas of health care that need to be improved. Hospital management also locates skill gaps and puts effort to boost their employees’ competencies (Grove et al., 2018). Nurses are essential to ensure accurate reporting and high-quality outcomes.
Challenges Associated with Quality Monitoring
Although providers collect data for each discharged patient, earlier assessments indicated that some data are incorrect and difficult to comprehend (Grove et al., 2018). Certain flaws exist in paper-based assessment data because it is manually entered.
Results of Quality Monitoring Dissemination
Quality monitoring results are disseminated at staff meetings, where clinicians and doctors are given time to process the data before it is discussed. Furthermore, training materials, social media, and internet communication techniques are used for dissemination (Ju et al., 2018).
The Role of Nurses and Other Frontline Workers
Nurses and other frontline healthcare workers play a key role in bridging the gap between healthcare fields and data by integrating their data expertise and healthcare experience (Grove et al., 2018). They implement new procedures, enlighten other nurses and personnel, and guarantee data quality. Such roles enhance the ability of health systems to transfer relevant data to the disposal of nurses and other frontline workers, which can help them make informed decisions regarding patient care. Precise reporting facilitated by technology-based tools and expertise allows healthcare systems to achieve high-quality outcomes and institutional performance results.
Conclusion
The interview with the healthcare provider enhanced my understanding of the significance of utilizing nursing-sensitive quality indicators to improve medical services. Such indicators assist healthcare institutions in enhancing patent safety and other health outcomes. I propose that all healthcare administrations and centers incorporate technology into their systems to improve quality and safety standards.
References
Grove PhD RN ANP-BC GNP-BC, Susan K. & Gray, J. R. (2018). Understanding nursing research: Building an evidence-based practice (7th ed.). Saunders.
Ju, Q.-Y., Huang, L.-H., Zhao, X.-H., Xing, M.-Y., Shao, L.-W., Zhang, M.-Y., & Shao, R.-Y. (2018). Development of evidence-based nursing-sensitive quality indicators for emergency nursing: A delphi study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(15-16), 3008–3019. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14256
Lockhart, L. (2018). Measuring nursing’s impact. Nursing made Incredibly Easy, 16(2), 55. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmadeincrediblyeasy/FullText/2018/03000/Measuring_nursing_s_impact.12.aspx
Tubaishat, A. (2017). Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of electronic health records among nurses: Application of technology acceptance model. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 43(4), 379–389. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538157.2017.1363761
write