How do you define quality of care?What factors can you control, as a manager, for your staff to provide high-quality care (which factors are internal and which are external)?
Question Description
Answer question 1 & 2 and reply to discussion posts 1 and 2 -constrictive feedback
1.Who controls nursing? (Consider nursing practice on all levels in your discussion.).
DISCUSSION POST 1. Nursing is controlled by a variety of people and groups, none of whom control nursing entirely. The public controls nursing by influencing public health issues and by creating different nursing environments such as homeless care, home health, public health clinics, etc. Patients control nursing by creating personal demands for care. Some patients are more or less demanding than others which can control nursing care in addition to the nursing care required by their medical needs. Study participants and researchers for evidence based practice can control nursing care because policies and procedures change based on study results. The nurse controls nursing care because he or she carries out the physical and emotional act of nursing. Doctors and mid-level providers control nursing care by entering orders for the nurse to execute. Management controls nursing care by creating goals for nursing staff such as infection control measures or overtime prevention. Hospital or clinic administration control nursing by creating policies, utilization management, ethics law, etc. that affects day to day nursing. Members of legislature and government agencies affect nursing by passing laws related to healthcare.In summary, there are many many people, groups and other factors that control nursing but none that control nursing as a whole. Nursing it far too comprehensive to be completely controlled by just one person or group.
2.. How do you define quality of care?What factors can you control, as a manager, for your staff to provide high-quality care (which factors are internal and which are external)? If an organization is deciding between several quality management programs which would you recommend and why? MUST RESPOND TO ALL 3 PARTS.
Discussion 2. I define quality of care as how well or how poorly patients are being cared for in a holistic manner. High quality of care is going above and beyond for the patient serving medical, emotional and spiritual needs. Poor quality of care is doing just enough for your patient medically, maybe even neglecting small aspects of medical care.Internal factors: As a manager I can control policies and procedures used by staff that create a high quality of care. I can ensure that staff are following the policies and procedures by administering disciplinary action for refused compliance. I can include topics for high quality of care in staff meetings and get staff members involved in unit based groups or projects that allow them to take ownership of high quality nursing ideas.External factors: Visitors such as friends and family are considered external customers. As manager with health and safety at the forefront of my mind, I can make sure that no ill visitors enter the unit. I can make sure that there are limits on visiting hours so that the patient can rest.I would recommend lean six sigma for quality management. I have worked in two facilities that utilized this management program and it was highly effective, especially when combined with a Kaizen initiative. The concept for lean six sigma is to trim the fat off of processes. The goal is to to reduce waste such as wasted time, wasted money, wasted effort and other wasted resources. Kaizen allows staff members to suggest process improvements within the organization. This leads to not only reduced waste but also happy employees who feel that their suggestions make a a difference.
