18 Quality and evidence-based practice: An introduction
Learning objectives
- Examine the role of utilisation review and continuous quality improvement
- Describe the role of research in providing evidence-based, quality patient care
- Analyze how informatics systems promote quality and safety in health care delivery
- Examine the role of the individual nurse in workplace quality improvement processes
- Utilise resources to enhance client care (e.g., evidence-based research, information technology, policies, and procedures)
- Participate in performance improvement projects and quality improvement processes
Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in the evaluation of quality nursing care. She identified the role of a nurse within the health care team and measured patient outcomes to support the value of a nurse. Over the years nursing theorists and governing agencies have continued the evaluation work of Florence Nightingale by collecting data, using statistics, and creating reports to ensure the best quality care is being delivered to all patients.
This chapter will review how quality nursing care is defined, measured, and evaluated and how nurses implement evidence-based practices into their daily nursing practice.
This chapter, “Quality and evidence-based practice introduction” in “Leadership and Management of Nursing Care” by Kim Belcik and Open Resources for Nursing, is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
