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January/March 2021 - Volume 36 - Issue 1

  • Marilyn H. Oermann, PhD, RN, FAAN
  • 1057-3631
  • 1550-5065
  • 4 issues / year
  • 1.425

Nurse-sensitive quality indicators have been used historically as a metric of nursing care quality. Critically ill COVID-19 patients led to an increase in health care-associated infections (HAIs). Nursing performance improvement teams developed innovative strategies implemented in real time to address the elevated HAIs. A new COVID-19 CLABSI Tip Sheet and a Prone Positioning Kit were among the strategies developed for care of these patients. The practice strategies led to a decline in infections and a new care standard for patients with COVID-19. Other studies report on system-level improvements in work environments that lead to lower nurse burnout and higher patient satisfaction, the impact of a telephonic outreach program in improving heart failure outcomes within the community, a QI initiative to address bullying in the workplace, the outcomes of including family in ICU rounds, the use of an escape room to prepare nurses for improving care quality, and more.​

Marilyn H. Oermann, Editor-in-Chief

COVID-19 and Nurse-Sensitive Indicators: Using Performance Improvement Teams to Address Quality Indicators During a Pandemic

Stifter, Janet; Sermersheim, Emily; Ellsworth, Mary; More

Journal of Nursing Care Quality. 36(1):1-6, January/March 2021.

COVID-19 and Nurse Sensitive Indicators: Using Performance Improvement Teams to Address Quality Indicators During a Pandemic

System-Level Improvements in Work Environments Lead to Lower Nurse Burnout and Higher Patient Satisfaction

Brooks Carthon, J. Margo; Hatfield, Linda; Brom, Heather; More

Journal of Nursing Care Quality. 36(1):7-13, January/March 2021.

System-Level Improvements in Work Environments Lead to Lower Nurse Burnout and Higher Patient Satisfaction

Impact of a Telephonic Outreach Program on Patient Outcomes Within the Heart Failure Community

Hall, Esscence T.; Maduro, Ralitsa S.; Morgan, Merri K.; More

Journal of Nursing Care Quality. 36(1):14-19, January/March 2021.

Impact of a Telephonic Outreach Program on Patient Outcomes within the Heart Failure Community

Challenges of Implementing the Choosing Wisely Guideline to Promote Sleep and Rest at Night for Hospitalized Patients

Graham, Kimberly; Ogbuji, Grace; Williams, Zainab; More

Journal of Nursing Care Quality. 36(1):50-56, January/March 2021.

Challenges of Implementing the Choosing Wisely® Guideline to Promote Sleep and Rest at Night for Hospitalized Patients

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On inpatient units, patients experience lack of sleep due to noise and multiple interruptions at night. A pilot intervention to support the initiative, “Don't wake the patient for routine care unless the patient's condition or care specifically requires it,” was implemented on 3 units in 3 hospitals. Nurses implemented the project using a purposeful strategy of sleep masks, earplugs, noise detectors, and bundling care. The experiences across the 3 hospital units were positive for providers, patients, and patients' families. ​Watch the video and read the article ​to learn more.
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Person-centered care has become a widely used philosophical framework and yet has varying definitions and characteristics. Learn about the new Patient Empowerment, Engagement, and Activation Survey that can be used to evaluate patients' perspectives of care quality (empowerment and engagement) and readiness for discharge (activation). Learn more by watching the video and be sure to read the article​.
​​A community hospital recognized patients with multiple chronic conditions had higher rates of inpatient stays and emergency department visits. Patients with multiple chronic conditions enrolled in a supportive care program. Palliative care nurses were assigned to patients enrolled in the program. There was a significant decrease in hospital utilization and inpatient stays following the implementation of the supportive care program. Learn more about this program and how to implement it in your own setting by watching the video and be sure to read the article​.
​​​Frontline nurse engagement in quality improvement (QI) improves nurse-sensitive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate the Nursing Quality Improvement in Practice (N-QuIP) tool to measure nurses' competency, engagement, and barriers/facilitators to QI engagement. Item development was guided by an expert panel and literature review. Factor analysis and reliability indices were assessed through 681 surveys completed by nurses at one medical center. Preliminary data suggest that the N-QuIP is a valid and reliable tool for assessing nurse QI competence and engagement. Watch the video and read the article.
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Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for substance use has an impact on morbidity and mortality and on health care cost. In this project, nurses in ambulatory care completed an online self-paced program focusing on alcohol and drug use screening, motivational interviewing, and referral to specialty treatment. Postintervention knowledge scores increased. Facilitator and barrier themes included time, education, resources, receptivity, and interprofessional collaboration. The SBIRT online program was feasible for nurses to complete during work hours and resulted in increased SBIRT-related knowledge. Watch the video and then follow up by reading the article.​













Watch our Videos on Writing Journal Articles on QI

This is the first video in our writing for publication series. The purpose of the manuscript and intended readers guide your selection of a journal for submission. Learn about directories of nursing and other journals and sending a query email.
This is the second video in our writing for publication series. Learn about the journal’s Information for Authors and why important, formats for writing different types of manuscripts, and reporting guidelines. The video will prepare you for writing papers about quality improvement and using the SQUIRE guidelines. References and tables/figures also are discussed.
​This is the final video in our writing for publication series. In this video you will get some additional tips on writing your manuscript and will learn about peer review and responding to reviewers’ comments. Other topics include authorship criteria, copyright, open access, and avoiding “predatory journals.”