Reference no: EM133639682

Imagine you are a nurse leader in the medical/surgical division of a large teaching hospital. Despite standard yearly education, patient falls over the last 6 months have been 4.52 falls/1000 patient days, when the organizational goal is 3.42 falls/1000 days.

Here is the layout to Test Changes:

Plan:

1. Based on the approaches mentioned earlier (critical thinking, benchmarking, technology, creative thinking, and change concepts), select specific changes that could contribute to reducing patient falls.

2. Clearly outline the steps needed to implement the selected changes. This may involve training staff, acquiring technology, updating protocols, or initiating patient education programs.

3. Establish measurable metrics to track the success of the changes. This could include the fall rate per 1000 patient days, as well as specific details about each fall incident (e.g., location, time of day, patient condition).

Do:

1. Roll out the changes on a small scale in a controlled environment. This could involve implementing the changes in one unit or with a specific patient population.

2. Ensure that staff members are well-trained on the new protocols, technologies, or procedures. Communication is key during this phase to address any concerns and ensure buy-in from the team.

Study:

Gather data on the implemented changes, including the fall rate and any relevant details about each incident. Compare this data to the baseline data before the changes were made.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the changes in reducing patient falls. Identify any patterns or trends in the data and assess whether the changes had the desired impact.

Act:

Based on the analysis of the data, make adjustments to the implemented changes. This could involve tweaking protocols, enhancing training, or modifying technology usage.

If the changes prove successful in the small-scale implementation, consider scaling up the interventions to the entire medical/surgical division.

Implement continuous monitoring and feedback loops to ensure that the changes are sustained over time. This may involve ongoing education, regular data analysis, and adaptation to evolving best practices.

How will you "hardwire" or make the change permanent, through tactics such as:

Documentation?

Training?

Addressing supply issues?

Assigning day to day ownership for the new process/standard?