Quality and Safety in Nursing: A Competency Approach to Improving Outcomes

This book discusses the driving forces for Quality and Safety: Changing Mindsets to Improve Health Care, as well as strategies to build a culture of quality and safety.

Abstract

Quality and Safety in Nursing is a must-read for faculty in nursing programs and is essential reading for nurse leaders to understand how the next generation of nurses will be taught as well as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) these nurses will have as they enter the workforce. The book tells of the journey to create and implement the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies through a Robert Woods Johnson Foundation grant in three parts. Section one, an overview, starts with the release of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports on medical errors, quality chasm, and workforce topics that created the drive to rethink the role of nurses and to ensure nurses have the competencies to navigate the system in new roles with new responsibilities. Then, the discussion moves to policy initiatives that have changed the health care landscape by focusing on improving the quality of care and the role of nurses in contributing to quality care. This chapter, which is very thorough, reads like a "Who's Who" of quality organizations.