The Utilization Of Best Evidence Based Nursing Practices

Task:

The aim of this assignment is for the student to demonstrate an understanding of quality and safety in healthcare, including organisational and nursing strategies for care delivery, and evaluation of standards of care.

For this Assignment, you are required to:

1. Identify and  explain the aims and core business of health institutions from the perspective of both the organisation and the nursing sector within the organisation
2. Identify and explain Process data and Outcome data in the context of quality and safety in health care
3. Use one (1) example of a clinical care activity for which process and outcome data is collected to:

• Discuss the clinical care activity in relation to quality and safety,
• Critically analyse scholarly literature and relevant resources to discuss the process and outcome data collected about that activity,
• Discuss how these data are used in relation to quality and safety in health care institutions.

The Core Objective of Health Institutions

Health care organizations across the Australian subcontinent established with the objective of delivering quality care and therapy to the patient population. The national health survey conducted for evaluating the self-assessed health statuses of Australian nationals reveals that more than 50% of individuals considered their health as excellent across the community environment (AIHW, Australia’s Health 2012: The Thirteenth Biennial Health Report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p. 109). This clearly indicates the optimum functioning of health institutions to facilitate the establishment of a healthy Australian society. The evidence-based research literature describes the need for institutionalization of health organizations for effectively configuring the educational outcomes (in nursing practice) in accordance with the health improvement statuses of the population (Kutcher, Wei, & Weist, 2015, p. 9). The Australian health organizations follow the policy for reforming the health care system; however, the challenges of funding and governmental assistance create numerous challenges for systematizing the qualitative delivery of care and assistance to the patient population (Sorensen & Iedema, 2008). Health institutions across Australia continue to streamline their nursing units for enhancing the primary health of the population (Willis, Reynolds, & Keleher, 2012). Nursing units in Australian subcontinent focus on implementing evidence-based practices for decreasing the disease burden from the Australian Society. 

The provision of administration of few listed drugs by qualified nurse professionals in the absence of prescription in nursing facilities reduces the risk of late treatment of patients in cases of acute emergencies (Forrester & Griffiths, 2010, p. 300). However, the administration of drugs across nursing facilities requires stringent adherence to the healthcare policies stipulated by health institutions for reducing errors in medication and subsequent adverse event episodes. The systematization of health services and subsequent health outcomes vary proportionately with the expenditure on healthcare executed by the Australian government and evaluated by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, Health Expenditure Australia 2010-11, 2012, p. 96). The nursing institutions in Australia have devised nursing education guidelines and placement options for preparing qualified nurse professionals in various medical domains including geriatrics, mental health, pediatrics, postoperative and critical care facilities (Hally, 2009, p. 55). The successful delivery of these courses to potential candidates ensures the qualitative rendering of evidence-based practice to facilitate the health outcomes across the community environment. The consistent alterations in nursing practice warrant the proactive configuration of policies and procedures by the healthcare institutions for enhancing the patterns of health and wellness among the Australian individuals. The health institutions emphasize more on the application of theories in nursing practice to facilitate better connectivity with the patients and stabilizing continuity of care and assistance during the course of medical interventions (Koutoukidis, Stainton, & Hughson, 2013, p. 19).         

Nursing Processes for Decreasing Medication Errors to Enhance Safety and Quality in Healthcare

Evidence-based academic literature advocates the utilization of systems research for evaluating the extent of patient injuries caused by the errors in medication administration (Cohen, 2007, p. 3). The clinical findings advocated by (Fry, 2008, p. 90) indicate the requirement of reconciliation of the prescription to reduce the probability of errors in medication administration to a patient population. This reconciliation task materialized by conducting focused audits for assessing the rate of medication errors across the clinical settings. The process and outcome data, while evaluating this medication error rate, obtained and include, the quantity and types of drug administration errors, adverse drug reactions, incorrect dosage patterns, inappropriate drug administration schedules, and absence of home medications. The corresponding rectification measures are devised in accordance with the outcomes to enhance the precision in medication administration and subsequent health outcomes.