HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives Instructions

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze national patient safety initiatives. Review the National Patient Safety Goals and select one initiative that you are familiar with or have seen in practice. In a 750-1,000-word paper, analyze the national patient safety initiative you have selected. Include the following in your paper:

1.     A description of the national patient safety initiative you have selected that you are familiar with or have seen in practice and what the setting would be for that initiative.

2.     A description of how this initiative is supported by evidence.

3.     An analysis of how the nation is trending toward this goal and its importance for improving patient outcomes in health care. Provide one or two examples to support your position.    

This assignment requires a minimum of three scholarly resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. Have a look at HQS 610 Topic 8 DQ 1.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite Technical Support Articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

HQS 610 Topic 7 Assignment: National Patient Safety Initiatives Example

National Patient Safety Initiatives

Nurses are vital professionals in promoting and supporting patient safety interventions. Nurses are involved in healthcare initiatives through leadership, collaboration and teamwork. Understanding patient safety goals and related initiatives significantly promotes their implementation and achievement in care facilities. The Joint Commission is an organization at the frontline in preparing national goals that inform interventions that ensure patient safety. These goals entail various initiatives that help facilities achieve the goals. Addressing the goals and comparing them to routine practice helps nurses identify gaps in care and address them, hence better outcomes. This essay evaluates a national patient goal and initiative applied in clinical settings.

The national patient safety goal of interest is goal 3: Improving the safety of using medications. I am familiar with the initiative “maintain and communicate accurate patient information.” Medication safety refers to ensuring safety in all medication handling steps, from prescribing and dispensing to administering them. Medication errors are the most common cause of mortality and morbidity, hence this goal’s significance and initiative’s significance. The World Health Organization (2019) notes that communicating accurate information is vital, especially in care transition from care provider to care provider and from setting to setting (hospital to home).

Accurate patient information is necessary for safe medication prescription, transcription, dispensing, and administration (Ilardo & Speciale, 2020). The initiative requires care providers to collect comprehensive patient information and promptly communicate it for flawless communication education. The setting for the selected initiative is the hospital in-patient setting. In my practice, I have encountered various interventions and technologies that were aimed at maintaining and communicating patient information. In addition, I have encountered standardized terminologies that help collect comprehensive patient information for effective patient management.

Communication is significant in the Prevention of errors in medication administration. Any communication breakdown can lead to sentinel events, and it is important to enhance communication and address all factors that affect communication in medication errors. Maintaining and communicating patient information is a vital initiative in promoting medication safety. The healthcare facility has developed several strategies and employed various technologies to make the initiative successful.

Manias et al. (2019) note that communication of accurate patient information is vital in promoting medication safety. Factors such as the involvement of patients and family in medication administration promote accurate information communication, hence improving the safety of medications. Rodziewicz and Hipskind (2020) also note that communication-related factors include burnout and stress, verbal errors, language barriers, lack of teamwork, and literacy. Burgener (2020) notes that enhancing communication and maintaining accurate patient information is integral for patient safety and safe medication administration.

Many interventions have been developed that target improving communication and maintenance of accurate information in medication safety. Jose (2020) notes that communicating safety-related patient information helps patients and care providers address and prevent problems that can arise in medication administration. Computerized provider order entry is a technology that helps clinicians eliminate errors in the prescription process (Mouruse & Tyler, 2023).

The technology also helps secure the communication process by ensuring the orders are available as prescribed to nurses and pharmacists. Technologies such as barcode medication administration use the information entered in the CPOE to help nurses administer medications, minimizing errors. Interventions to communicate patient information include bedside handing over and handing over using ISBAR methods (Burgener, 2020). All these interventions support the initiative to maintain and communicate accurate patient information, hence its significance in improving safety in medication administration.

The nation has shown a positive change in medication errors, but they are still significantly high. The burden of medication errors and related sentinel events can measure the safety of the use of medications. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is responsible for such and reports on several benchmarks nationally, including medication errors. The agency reports on various quality and safety-related measures, such as medication errors and patient safety practices directed towards managing them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.) notes that more than one million patients visit emergency departments secondary to adverse medical events each year. Thus, the CDC has developed various interventions to ensure adequate patient information through the medication safety program.

The medication safety initiatives by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality include “Improving Hospital Discharge Through Medication Reconciliation and Education,” “Medication Management Strategy: Intervention, and “Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe. (with wallet card).” (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.). The nation and related agencies implement these initiatives to improve medication safety in and out of the hospital setting.

The nation also develops goals for specific medication errors, including administration, dispensing, prescription, and transcription errors. These measures and interventions by the government and government agencies help eliminate errors and promote safety in medication use. Thus, the nation is making significant strides in maintaining and communicating accurate information for medication safety.

Conclusion

Nurses play a crucial role in promoting and supporting patient safety interventions. Their involvement in healthcare initiatives through leadership, collaboration, and teamwork is vital for implementing and achieving patient safety goals. The Joint Commission, as a leading organization, provides national goals that inform interventions aimed at ensuring patient safety. Maintaining and communicating accurate patient information is essential for medication safety in hospital settings, considering that medication errors are a common cause of harm. Accurate patient information is crucial throughout the medication process, from prescribing to administering. Communication plays a significant role in preventing medication errors, and efforts are made to address factors that affect communication in this context.

Multiple interventions and technologies have been developed to enhance communication and maintain accurate patient information, such as computerized provider order entry and barcode medication administration systems. National agencies, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have implemented initiatives to improve medication safety and reduce adverse events. These efforts contribute to eliminating errors and promoting safety in medication use. The nation is making significant strides in achieving the goal of maintaining and communicating accurate patient information to enhance medication safety.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (n.d.). Topic: Medication: Safety. https://www.ahrq.gov/topics/medication-safety.html

Burgener, A. M. (2020). Enhancing communication to improve patient safety and to increase patient satisfaction. The health care manager, 39(3), 128-132. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCM.0000000000000298

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). Medication Safety Program. https://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/index.html

Ilardo, M. L., & Speciale, A. (2020). The community pharmacist: perceived barriers and patient-centered care communication. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 17(2), 536. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020536

Jose, J. (2020). Communication on drug safety-related matters to patients: Is it even more significant in this digital era? Therapeutic Advances In Drug Safety, 11, 2042098620915057. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042098620915057

Manias, E., Cranswick, N., Newall, F., Rosenfeld, E., Weiner, C., Williams, A., Wong, I. C. K., Borrott, N., & Kinney, S. (2019). Medication error trends and effects of person‐related, environment‐related and communication‐related factors on medication errors in a pediatric hospital. Journal Of Pediatrics And Child Health, 55(3), 320–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14193

Morouse, K. M., & Tyler, D. D. (2023). Medication Administration: Using Technology to Promote Patient Safety. Journal of Informatics Nursing, 8(1), 6–10.

Rodziewicz, T. L., & Hipskind, J. E. (2020). Medical error prevention. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

World Health Organization. (2019). Medication safety in transitions of care: technical report (No. WHO/UHC/SDS/2019.9). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325453/WHO-UHC-SDS-2019.9-eng.pdf