Quality Control and Improvement

• What do you consider elements of quality care when receiving healthcare services?
• Receiving care from someone who is caring and explains well and adjusts their routine to be the best for each individual patient
• What do you consider elements of quality care as a professional nurse?
• Clinical expertise and being able to perform accurate, helpful care within the context of each individual patient.
• Are the two similar or different?
• They are different in that as a patient what is most important tends to be bedside manner. As a nurse, I place more emphasis on knowledge and utilization of resources to ensure appropriate care. However, in both cases I think one of the most vital components is the ability to individualize care.

What I expected to learn in class would include the elements (or possible steps) of quality improvement. I thought we would talk about the best way to approach this topic.

I actually learned many ways not to do it, and subsequently a better approach to take. I learned how complex the issue is, and that I am not sure I ever want to have to deal with it! separating out so many things would be so exhausting and never ending.

I can apply this in the future by helping others to see the importance of reviewing the many complexities of an issue before taking action or making a decision. I can also remember not to react to normal variance and overcompensate.

I was a little confused by the videos because it seemed what they were saying is that trying to make changes is bad because you pull yourself further from your goal- however, doing nothing is bad too because over time you will drift from it anyway. So I wonder when are we supposed to intervene? Does this mean that there is no good way/time to make changes? How do you tell the difference between normal variance and a problem to be solved?