Paper
Friday, 21 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Developing Measurement Instruments
Development of a Practice Review Template and Process for Maintaining Quality Care
Mary Ellen Gurnham, RN, BN, MN1, Brenda Marie Sabo, RN, BA, MA1, and Helen Cameron, RN, BN, MBA2. (1) Professional Practice Development Department, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, NS, Canada, (2) Quality and Decision Support, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, NS, Canada
Learning Objective #1: take a concrete example of a practice review and modify for use in their specific settings
Learning Objective #2: clearly articulate when and how a practice review can be of benefit
Development of a Practice Review Template and Process for Maintaining Quality Care Changes in healthcare delivery models, evolving scopes of practice, and technological advancements play a significant role in influencing the quality of care provided by healthcare practitioners of which nurses are but one group. In light of the changes, a mechanism to consistently, objectively and comprehensively monitor and evaluate practice to assist individual professionals, groups, units and programs in recognizing their strengths, weaknesses, areas for change, and resource supports is paramount. A search of the literature indicated a lack of reliable, valid instruments for this purpose. As a result, Professional Practice for a District Health Authority has developed a practice review framework for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating competencies and practice change. The following presentation highlights the implementation of a practice review on an in-patient and ambulatory care unit within a tertiary facility in Atlantic Canada. The foundation of the framework has been based on the work of Irvine-Doran et al, 1998 and Batalden et al, 1994. Examples of its implementation on in-patient and ambulatory care units will illustrate its effectiveness in assisting nurses to meet on-going quality improvement, and provide safe, effective patient-centred care.

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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)