Leading Perioperative Change Through Quality Improvement
Quality improvement (QI) is a proven way to positively impact both patients and healthcare personnel. QI is the ongoing analysis and evaluation to prevent errors, increase satisfaction and improve processes. There are many different models of the QI process in healthcare and most of these follow the nursing process (which you reviewed back in your first module of course 1). Most QI processes follow these five steps:
- Identify what needs to be accomplished. What needs to change/be improved?
- Identify the measures. How will we know that we have made a positive change?
- What changes can be made that will result in an improvement?
- Implement rapid cycle improvements (the PDSA cycle).
- Maintain these improvements.
(Bennett & Costello, 2020)
Quality Improvement in Health Care
How does a Novice Perioperative Nurse go about Initiating Quality Improvements?
Advocating for and initiating change can be a very intimidating topic for new nurses, no matter which department you are in. Sometimes it takes new or novice staff entering the OR to ask why something is being done in a particular way for senior staff to realize that it may not be the best or most efficient practice.
Completing this perioperative program has also given you the opportunity to work through the ORNAC standards. You have the perioperative best practices fresh in your brain and can share knowledge with more senior staff who may not have reviewed them as recently.
Curiosity to Identify Quality Improvement Opportunities
One of the best ways for novice perioperative nurses to learn and identify a need for change is to ask in a curious and nonconfrontational manner… why?
By noting that it is part of your learning, you will be able to understand why processes are done in specific ways at your hospital. You might find that sometimes your colleagues will say, “I’m not sure why,” or “You’re right, this does seem a bit strange.”
Leading Perioperative Change through Quality Improvement
The institution you work for may have a QI team. If so, bring your questions or concerns to them and see if you can work together through the change process. If not, speak with your colleagues such as the interprofessional team or individuals, the manager, and or educator, to validate the issue. Create a small group to work through the QI process.
Reflect: Small Changes can have Big Impacts
This was an amazingly simple change that made a dramatic difference for patients.
Remember this example the next time you notice a slight problem in the perioperative unit where you are working. Minor changes can have big impacts on the healthcare team, as well as on patients’ safety and well-being.
Leading Perioperative Change as a Staff RN
As you can see from the example we just worked through, staff nurses identifying problems can help to bring about change.
Remember that no problem is too small. If you are experiencing problems, notice concerns, or are just frustrated with something, remember what you have learned about QI. Look for others who understand and can work with you to create change.
🧠Graded Activity
You have realized that the perioperative setting at your facility only has garbage disposal. There is no opportunity to recycle. Read the following article:
Greening in the OR
The culture of waste in the OR is driven in large part by the increasing volume of disposable or “single-use” medical products…
Read Article
In Blackboard, download you assessment sheet to complete your own PDSA cycle. Submit your work under Graded Activity: PDSA Cycle