NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety – Step-by-Step Guide With Example Answer
The first step before starting to write the NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety is to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment.
It is also important to identify the paper’s audience and purpose, as this will help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, review its use, including writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and headings in the paper, as outlined by Capella University.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety
The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the Capella University library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from the Capella University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last 5 years and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list.
You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next, create a detailed outline of the paper to help you develop headings and subheadings for the content. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety
The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.
How to Write the Body for NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety
The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance, as well as how it relates to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.
How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety
In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:
“The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.”
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety
When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations.
How to Format the Reference List for NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety
The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically, and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication.
Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:
References
Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319
Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.
NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety Instructions
For this assessment, you will develop a 3–5 page paper that examines a safety quality issue in a healthcare setting. You will analyze the issue and examine potential evidence-based and best-practice solutions from the literature as well as the role of nurses and other stakeholders in addressing the issue.
Introduction
The role of the baccalaureate nurse includes identifying and explaining specific patient risk factors, incorporating evidence-based solutions to improving patient safety and coordinating care. A solid foundation of knowledge and understanding of safety organizations such as Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and The Joint Commission and its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) program is vital to practicing nurses with regard to providing and promoting safe and effective patient care.
You are encouraged to complete the Identifying Safety Risks and Solutions activity. This activity offers an opportunity to review a case study and practice identifying safety risks and possible solutions. We have found that learners who complete course activities and review resources are more successful with first submissions. Completing course activities is also a way to demonstrate course engagement.
References
Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J., & Donaldson, M. S. (Eds.). (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. National Academy Press.
Overview
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for implementing quality improvement (QI) and patient safety measures in healthcare settings. Effective quality improvement measures result in systemic and organizational change, ultimately leading to the development of a patient safety culture.
Consider the hospital-acquired conditions that are not reimbursed under Medicare/Medicaid, some of which are specific safety issues such as infections, falls, medication errors, and other concerns that could have been prevented or alleviated with the use of evidence-based guidelines.
The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in enhancing quality improvement (QI) measures to address patient safety risk at a healthcare setting of your choice. You will do this by exploring the professional guidelines and best practices for improving and maintaining patient safety in healthcare settings from organizations such as QSEN (Quality and Safety Education for Nurses) and the IOM (Institute of Medicine).
Looking through the lens of these professional best practices to examine the current policies and procedures in place at your chosen organization and the impact on safety measures for patients, you will consider the role of the nurse in driving quality and safety improvements. You will identify stakeholders in QI improvement and safety measures as well as consider evidence-based strategies to enhance quality of care and promote safety in your chosen healthcare setting.
See Nursing Competencies for more information.
Instructions
Select one of the safety quality issues presented in the Assessment 01 Supplement: Enhancing Quality and Safety [PDF] Download Assessment 01 Supplement: Enhancing Quality and Safety [PDF]resource and incorporate evidence-based strategies to support communication and ensure safe and effective care.
For this assessment, be sure to focus on an organizational setting. This could be a primary care office, urgent care, mobile clinic, hospital ED, rural clinic, etc. Then use the literature to support the problem and solution in the organization. Reflect on costs to that organization/setting and what nurses can do to coordinate the care within the setting. Reflect on stakeholders who may be involved.
Be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the rubric. Please study the rubric carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.
- Explain factors leading to a specific patient safety risk.
- Explain evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety related to a specific patient-safety risk and reduce costs.
- Explain how nurses can help coordinate care to increase patient safety and reduce costs.
- Identify stakeholders with whom nurses would need to coordinate to drive safety enhancements.
- Communicate using writing that is clear, logical, and professional, with correct grammar and spelling, using current APA style.
Additional Requirements
- Length of submission: 3–5 pages of content plus title and reference pages.
- Number of references: Cite a minimum of 4 sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your findings and considerations. Resources should be no more than 5 years old. Use the Capella University Library and BSN Nursing Program Library Guide as needed.
- APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to current APA style. See the APA Module.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Analyze the elements of a successful quality improvement initiative.
- Explain evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety related to a specific patient safety risk and reduce costs.
- Competency 2: Analyze factors that lead to patient safety risks.
- Explain factors leading to a specific patient-safety risk in a healthcare setting.
- Competency 4: Explain the nurse’s role in coordinating care to enhance quality and reduce costs.
- Explain how nurses can help coordinate care to increase patient safety and reduce costs.
- Identify stakeholders with whom nurses would coordinate to drive safety enhancements with a specific safety quality issue.
- Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based strategies to communicate in a manner that supports safe and effective patient care.
- Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar or punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
- Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.
NURS-FPX4035 Assessment 1 Enhancing Quality and Safety Example
Enhancing Quality and Safety
Patient safety and quality care are fundamental cornerstones to healthcare service delivery. However, various patient safety and quality issues may arise in care delivery, compromising patient safety and contributing to substandard care quality. Nurses play a significant role in identifying these issues and contributing to identifying, proposing and implementing solutions to address them in their practice settings. One of the rampant safety quality issues in healthcare settings is workplace violence.
According to Fricke et al. (2023), workplace violence refers to any acts or threats to physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behaviors in the work setting. It is a recognized hazard in healthcare, which can affect and involve both the staff and the patients. This essay explores the factors leading to workplace violence, the evidence-based and best-practice solutions to improve patient safety related to workplace violence as a patient safety risk and reduce costs, discusses hoe nurses can help in care coordination to increase patient safety and reduce costs, and identifies stakeholders with whom nurses would require to coordinate to drive safety enhancements.
Factors Leading to Workplace Violence in the Healthcare Setting
Various factors lead to workplace violence in healthcare settings. The healthcare setting of focus in this assessment is a rural clinic. One factor is working in a high-stress environment. The healthcare workplace is generally a high-stress environment, especially in rural clinics that are mainly understaffed and required to provide care to high patient volumes. Sari et al. (2023) note that the high-stress environments in rural clinics may contribute to staff’s heightened emotions, hence increasing aggression and leading to workplace violence. In that line, inadequate staffing may also lead to workplace violence from patients, for care providers working alone in rural clinics, due to patients’ frustrations from longer response times, which may increase patients’ aggression.
Additionally, miscommunication and dissatisfaction of other staff and patients increase the vulnerability to workplace violence (Sari et al., 2023). In addition, organizations that have normalized a culture of violence by discouraging workplace violence reporting and preventing the necessary policy changes further exacerbate the incidences of workplace violence. Therefore, healthcare settings experiencing high workplace violence incidences should discourage the culture of violence by promoting reporting, action taking on workplace violence incidences, and implementing robust policies on the issue.
Furthermore, caring for patients with some mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders may increase the vulnerability of the healthcare workers to the workplace environment. These patients may sometimes be experiencing psychosis, withdrawal symptoms, and manic episodes, and become aggressive towards the healthcare providers. Additionally, non-compliance with procedures in the institution and inadequate de-escalation training can lead to workplace violence (Fricke et al., 2023). Inadequate training in recognizing and managing escalating situations among staff in a clinic can result in avoidable violent encounters.
Evidence-Based and Best-Practice Solutions to Improve Patient Safety and Reduce Costs
Various evidence-based and best-practice solutions exist to improve patient safety and reduce costs associated with workplace violence in clinics. It is worth noting that the impact of workplace violence trickles down to patient care by disrupting the normal flow of operations in the clinic and increasing costs due to associated patient safety risks and high staff turnover. One of the best-practice solutions to address workplace violence is institutional support through policies against discrimination (de Raeve et al., 2023).
Discrimination is one of the causes of workplace violence. Healthcare institutions with high workplace violence prevalence should support the victims by developing and enforcing robust policies against discrimination, hence protecting them against the issue. With such polices, the organization can improve the patient safety risks associated with the issue and save costs associated with staff retention.
According to Fricke et al. (2023), the implementation of comprehensive violence prevention programs has been found to be effective in reducing workplace violence across healthcare settings. These programs encompass implementing facility-wide workplace violence policies such as zero-tolerance policies and incident reporting protocols to prevent incidents and discourage perpetrators from the same. In addition, institutions should conduct risk assessments to identify high-risk areas and departments within the organization, hence implementing preventive measures. To enforce these policies, the organization should also encourage incidence reporting, data tracking and action taking by implementing anonymous and non-punitive incident reporting systems and use data analytics to identify patterns of violence and adjust prevention strategies (de Raeve et al., 2023).
Furthermore, crisis intervention and de-escalation training is another evidence-based solution for addressing workplace violence. De-escalation and crisis intervention training equip staff with the necessary de-escalation techniques and non-violent crisis intervention skills to help them prevent workplace violence incidents. A study by Somani et al. (2021) found that de-escalation and crisis intervention training was effective in assisting staff to recognize early signs of violence and respond proactively based on organizational policies.
Nurses’ Care Coordination to Increase Patient Safety and Reduce Costs
Nurses play a crucial role in coordinating care to increase patient safety and reduce costs associated with workplace violence in several ways. For instance, nurses being leaders in care coordination, especially nurse leaders, can educate colleagues, other staff, and patients on the patient safety issue and its impact on patient safety and the clinic’s operational costs. They can also train other staff in recognizing and de-escalating potentially violent situations.
They can also educate patients and their families about acceptable behavior within the healthcare setting and the consequences of violence, hence preventing violent situations. Additionally, nurses collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to address the issue (Lim et al., 2022). For example, nurses can work with the security team, social workers, and mental health professionals to develop patient-specific safety plans and engage in behavioral intervention teams to proactively manage patients who are at risk of being violent.
In addition, nurses can advocate for a safe work environment free from workplace violence in their practice settings. For instance, nurses can participate in violence prevention committees and workplace safety initiatives and encourage other staff to participate. Nurses can also report incidents of workplace violence in their practice settings and encourage other staff to report incidences, hence fostering a culture of transparency, responsibility and non-violence. Moreover, nurses can leverage technology to mitigate risks by using real-time tracking systems for security alerts and staff location monitoring.
Stakeholders Identification
As mentioned earlier, addressing the quality safety issue of workplace violence requires collective responsibility among all staff in a healthcare setting. There are various stakeholders with whom nurses would coordinate to drive safety enhancements with workplace violence. These stakeholders include other nursing staff, hospital administrators and leaders, risk management teams, security personnel, policymakers, and union/professional nursing organizations. Other nursing staff, as stakeholders, play a crucial role as frontline responders to workplace violence, advocating for policy changes and providing de-escalation and crisis interventions.
Hospital administrators develop and enforce violence prevention policies and allocate resources for security and staff training to improve the workplace environment. Risk management teams can analyze violence incidences and incident data and propose/implement mandatory interventions for the staff in the institution. Security personnel can collaborate with the nurses to address the issue by ensuring rapid response to violent incidents and implementing control measures. Policymakers can advocate for and make violence protection policies for healthcare institutions to implement. In addition, unions and professional nursing organizations can work with the nurses to provide advocacy and legal support to guide workplace violence regulations.
Conclusion
Workplace violence in healthcare is a significant patient safety and quality issue that demands urgent attention. By understanding the contributing factors, implementing evidence-based solutions, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare institutions can create a safer environment for patients and staff. As key players in patient care, nurses are instrumental in driving change through education, advocacy, and proactive intervention. They also work closely with stakeholders, including hospital administrators, risk management teams, security personnel, policymakers, and professional organizations, to build a culture of safety and accountability. Addressing workplace violence enhances patient care, improves staff well-being, and reduces healthcare costs, contributing to a more effective and compassionate healthcare system.
References
de Raeve, P., Xyrichis, A., Bolzonella, F., Bergs, J., & Davidson, P. M. (2023). Workplace violence against nurses: Challenges and solutions for Europe. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 24(4), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544231182586
Fricke, J., Siddique, S. M., Douma, C., Ladak, A., Burchill, C. N., Greysen, R., & Mull, N. K. (2023). Workplace violence in healthcare settings: A scoping review of guidelines and systematic reviews. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 24(5), 3363–3383. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221126476
Lim, M. C., Jeffree, M. S., Saupin, S. S., Giloi, N., & Lukman, K. A. (2022). Workplace violence in healthcare settings: The risk factors, implications and collaborative preventive measures. Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012), 78, 103727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103727
Sari, H., Yildiz, İ., Baloğlu, C. S., Özel, M., & Tekalp, R. (2023). The frequency of workplace violence against healthcare workers and affecting factors. PloS One, 18(7), e0289363. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289363
Somani, R., Muntaner, C., Hillan, E., Velonis, A. J., & Smith, P. (2021). A systematic review: Effectiveness of interventions to de-escalate workplace violence against nurses in healthcare settings. Safety and Health at Work, 12(3), 289–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.04.004