Quality Improvement and Safety Processes in Healthcare Minor
In 1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched a concerted, ongoing effort focused on assessing and improving the nation's quality of care. The first phase of this Quality Initiative documented the serious and pervasive nature of the nation's overall quality problem. Now in its third phase, this initiative focuses on operationalizing a safe healthcare system that provides quality patient care.
In addition to the IOM, the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project, funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was initiated in October 2005. It continues in its second phase to reshape nursing professional identity formation in quality and safety competencies.
The University Of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing has developed a minor in Quality Improvement and Safety Processes in Healthcare to address these competencies as defined by the QSEN faculty. Coursework focuses on patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement processes, safety, and systems-thinking skills. Students are mentored in utilizing a myriad of process improvement tools and have a unique opportunity to complete a quality improvement project in a healthcare organization.
This three course unit minor can be pursued simultaneously with any graduate clinical program and prepares advanced practice nurses to understand how to implement quality improvement processes and measure resultant outcomes. Students are mentored in utilizing a myriad of process improvement tools and have a unique opportunity to complete a quality improvement project in a healthcare organization.
NURS 698 - Quality Improvement Practicum is the capstone course that includes the implementation of a QI project that may be completed in the student's place of employment.
Course of Study
Core Courses (2 course units)
NURS612 - Principles and Practice of Quality Improvement and Safety I
NURS650 - Systems Thinking in Patient Safety
Practicum Courses (1 course unit)
NURS698 - Practicum: Quality Improvement in Healthcare