Quality and Safety Gap Analysis

Paper details
Write an analysis, 4–5 pages in length, of the gap between current and desired performance, with respect
to the provision of safe, high-quality patient care.
Note: Each assessment in this course builds on the work you completed in the previous assessment.
Therefore, you must complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.
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Context
Quality and safety are everyone’s responsibility as a team of interprofessional care delivery partners.
Together we develop policies that support quality and safe care delivery. As part of the interprofessional
team, nurses are leaders in care and thus are responsible and accountable for leading and providing safe
quality care.
Health care delivery is structured around evidenced-based information. Quality is defined by exploring
proven, evidenced-based information. After reviewing and defining evidenced-based information, theinterprofessional team applies this knowledge to assess the organization’s or the practice setting’s ability to
provide evidenced-based care delivery. When a gap in care is identified, it is important to propose an
evidenced-based change and to execute a plan for improved care.
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Questions to Consider
As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen
your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and
discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional
community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be
completed or submitted as part of your assessment.
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Resources
MSN Program Journey
The following is a useful map that will guide you as you continue your MSN program. This map gives you
an overview of all the steps required to prepare for your practicum and to complete your degree. It also
outlines the support that will be available to you along the way.
MSN Program Journey | Transcript.
Required Resources
The following resources are required to complete the assessment.
APA Style Paper Template [DOCX]. Use this template for your gap analysis.
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Assessment Instructions
Your quality and safety gap analysis will provide the basis for the remaining assessments in this course.
Preparation
As a nurse leader, you are fully aware of the hazardous nature of health care and that organizations must
continually seek to improve the quality and safety of the care they provide to patients. For this assessment,
you will identify a systemic problem in your organization, practice setting, or area of interest associated with
adverse quality and safety outcomes (for example, an increase in the incidence of falls or medical errors)
and analyze the gap between current and desired performance.
Note: Remember that you can submit all or a portion of your draft analysis to Smarthinking for feedback
before you submit the final version for this assessment. However, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24–
48 hours for receiving feedback, if you plan on using this free service.
Requirements
Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the Quality and Safety Gap
Analysis Scoring Guide. Be sure that your written analysis addresses each point, at a minimum. You may
also want to read the Quality and Safety Gap Analysis Scoring Guide and Guiding Questions: Quality and
Safety Gap Analysis (linked in the Resources) to better understand how each criterion will be assessed.
Conducting the Analysis
Identify a systemic problem in your organization, practice setting, or area of interest that contributes to
adverse quality and safety outcomes.
Propose specific practice changes that will improve quality and safety outcomes and bridge the gap
between current and desired performancePrioritize proposed practice changes.
Determine how proposed practice changes will foster a culture of quality and safety.
Determine how a particular organizational culture or hierarchy might affect quality and safety outcomes.
Justify necessary changes with respect to functions, processes, or behaviors, specific to your organization.
Writing and Supporting Evidence
Communicate analysis data and information clearly and accurately, using correct grammar and mechanics.
Integrate relevant and credible sources of evidence to support assertions, correctly formatting citations and
references using APA style.
Additional Requirements
Format your document using APA style.
Use the APA Paper Template linked in the resources. Be sure to include:
A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
A running head on all pages.
Appropriate section headings.
Properly-formatted citations and references.
Your analysis should be 4–5 pages in length, not including the title page and reference page.
Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save your gap analysis to your ePortfolio.