· What is the NDNQI?
The National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI®) is the only national nursing database that provides quarterly and annual reporting of structure, process, and outcome indicators to evaluate nursing care at the unit level. Linkages between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes have already been demonstrated through the use of this database. Currently over 1100 facilities in the United States contribute to this growing database which can now be used to show the economic implications of various levels of nurse staffing.
NDNQI data allows staff nurses and nursing leadership to review and evaluate nursing performance in relation to patient outcomes. Hospitals can use the information to establish organizational goals for improvement at the unit level, and mark progress in improving patient care and the work environment. It can also help your facility avoid costly complications.
· What are nursing-sensitive quality indicators?
Nursing-sensitive indicators identify structures of care and care processes, both of which in turn influence care outcomes. Nursing-sensitive indicators are distinct and specific to nursing, and differ from medical indicators of care quality. For example, one structural nursing indicator is nursing care hours provided per patient day. Nursing outcome indicators are those outcomes most influenced by nursing care.
· Which particular quality indicator did you select to address in your tutorial?
Medication error
· Why is this quality indicator important to monitor?
· Be sure to address the impact of this indicator on quality of care and patient safety.
Medication safety is an important topic because medication errors (MEs) are a common, serious and expensive type of medical error
may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm
· Why do new nurses need to be familiar with this particular quality indicator when providing patient care?
The nurse’s role in and ability to change patient safety and quality improvement within health care has implications for both safety and quality processes and nursing, patient, and organizational outcomes. The relationships between organizational systems factors, clinical processes, and patient safety and quality outcomes. It is important to focus on improving and widening the assessment of the impact of patient safety and quality improvements on the incidence of the broad array of errors that can and do occur in nurses’ work environments. For example, leaders and clinicians need to understand the association between an organization’s culture of safety and patient outcomes as well as how nurses can influence executives to lead working environment improvements.