Learning Objective #1: Describe the process of action research and its goodness of fit for a workforce change project in a healthcare setting

Learning Objective #2: Appreciate the value of applying nursing knowledge in practice for the patient and the nurse

---

The problem was the quality of patient care reflected by a low JCAHO nursing score, downsized and weary nursing staff due to ownership changes at the medical center. The purpose of this project was to improve the quality of patient care by applying nursing knowledge to practice, steamlining patient care services by selecting a specific nursing approach and facilitating the educational development of the staff. An action research design was carried out in three phases with the goal of improving patient care. Action research progresses in a cyclical manner alternating between action and critical reflection and this approach contributed to the fit of this method for the project given the one day a week schedule of the consultant. This presentation outlines the activities of a three-phase process; the goals and the outcomes of each of the phases demonstrates how critical reflection contributed new goals and activities as the project progressed. Results, in addition to those noted in each phase of the research process, were that the JCAHO nursing score was increased by ten points, there was a remarkable renewal of interest in nursing practice among the nurses, and a major increase in the number of staff nurses who decided to continue their education by entering educational programs for BSN, MS, & PhD.