What is quality improvement?
Quality is defined by the National Academy of Medicine as the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge.
Quality improvement is the framework used to systematically improve care. Quality improvement seeks to standardize processes and structure to reduce variation, achieve predictable results, and improve outcomes for patients, healthcare systems, and organizations. Structure includes things like technology, culture, leadership, and physical capital; process includes knowledge capital (e.g., standard operating procedures) or human capital (e.g., education and training).
Quality Improvement Project
Students are expected to develop a proposed solution for enhancing or improving the selected problem identified from the student’s clinical experience – quality improvement. The paper will include support from the literature, as well as a plan for implementation and evaluation of the changes to improve patient outcomes.
References should be cited from refereed journals and include the utilizing of evidence-based articles. The grade will be based on the following: adequacy and rigor of the content, relevance of the selected issue and supporting argument, adherence to APA style, use of references, and professional/scholarly presentation. For specific grading criteria, please refer to the grading rubric. This is a formal APA paper, so please refer to the APA 7th edition book for format and guidelines.
Tips for Writing a Scholarly Paper:
It is inherent to professional dimension of nursing that the student is able to present information in a clear, concise and cogent manner, including grasping the foundations of scientific writing and formatting. These assignments are geared to assess and guide the student toward these goals.
Be mindful that each assignment will be entirely and solely scored on each of the items in the corresponding scoring criteria provided below. It is recommended that students pay close attention to the weighting of each item and clearly highlight to the reader when those items are being discussed in the paper narrative (for example, use of APA 7 level headings is beneficial as it highlights to the reader which scoring criterion is being addressed).
Remember to avoid writing in first person tense, papers are always composed in the third person.
Avoid use of colloquial language and adages.
Direct quoting should be avoided. It will inflate the originality score report from Turn-It-In and it does not demonstrate student mastery of the issue. Paraphrasing and integration of the selected sources is the expectation of scholarly writing and demonstrates higher level learning (synthesis and application) which is expected of the graduate students. The paper should be a representation of your VOICE that is interpreting and presenting the information from the articles you have read and analyzed.
If you need to use a direct quote, there must be quotes at the beginning and end of the quote and there must be a citation with a page number on that sentence.
Please note – if a sentence is not your own original idea it must have a citation. It is very common to have citations on most of the sentences in a scholarly paper.
Make sure to double check that every citation in the paper is listed in the reference list and vice versa. When the citations and reference list do not match it can be considered plagiarism.
If you are using any software program to assist you with the APA format of citations and references make sure to manually check each one because the software programs do not do APA format 100% correctly
Beware of websites – unless they are from scholarly sources (i.e., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, Institute of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Government databases, etc.). Do not use blogs.
DO NOT use Wikipedia, Webster’s Dictionary, Dictionary.com, or other layman sources for healthcare definitions. Use definitions found in the extant healthcare literature only.
Correct use of APA 7 formatting is an important part of scholarly writing throughout the graduate program at the CNHP. Refer frequently and repeatedly to the APA 7 Manual for formatting of title page, abstract with key words, running head, levels of headers, parenthetical citations, final reference list. Please note: The APA Manual 7th edition will be the final authority on proper formatting and citations.
Quality Improvement Project Rubric
Paper Structure
Paper Components
Point value
Title page
Please follow APA format for title page
0
Abstract
Short review of paper in correct format (see APA book). Include summarizing of a current problem, current state, proposal, implementation, and evaluation.
10
Introduction/Overview
Purpose of the paper described in the introduction.
· Brief discussion of the current problem
5
Background
Explore the problem as it currently presents in the healthcare setting today:
· Importance of this problem explained; particularly why it matters to healthcare at this point in time.
· Literature describing the problem and also supporting the need for a solution.
10
Assessment
Critical assessment of the problem, as it presents in your area (unit/department):
· Introduce the unit where problem exists (type of unit, patient population, bed size, etc.)
· *Do not mention hospital by name*
· How significant is the problem in your area (use unit data/evidence to support the argument)?
· What are some potential causes of this problem?
· Cause and Effect Diagram.
15
Statement of Proposal/Solution
Develop a proposed solution for enhancing or improving the selected problem from their practice.
· Be sure to be realistic about the solution. Although the literature may support many solutions, it may be necessary to focus on one solution that would be realistic to obtain.
· This solution cannot be a solution that has already been implemented or a completed project. This must be forward thinking.
· The proposal should cite current evidence-based literature pertinent to the analysis and rationale.
10
Implementation Plan
Detailed Implementation for the solution. Section must include:
· A detailed timeline of the plan (not a general plan)
· Who are the stakeholders needed?
· Education plan- what will the education look like, who will conduct it, how will it take place?
· Evaluation—what metrics will be collected, by who, when and who will evaluate? How will you know the solution is successful?
· Include discussion of evidence-based practice into the implementation plan
20
Conclusion
Conclusion summarizing the main points of the project.
· Free of new or irrelevant material
· Conclusion is effective and leaves the reader satisfied
· Summarizes key points made in the paper
15
References
References should be cited from refereed journals, and newspapers, not just web sites. Reference list should be of sufficient breadth and depth.
· At least 2 peer-reviewed journal articles published within the last 5 years.
5
Tables and Figures
If utilized, they must be referenced in the paper and placed in the appendix
0
APA format and professional presentation
· Adherence to APA style throughout
· At least 3 pages with a 6 page limit for the paper, not including title, abstract, tables, figures or reference pages.
10
TURNITIN SCORE MUST BE BELOW 24%
