Question

You are a member of a clinical team that has just received its evaluation from the unit manager. The team told the manager that it was doing a great job; however, it had little data to support this perspective. The manager then provided his evaluation of the team. He said he looks at patient outcome data provided by the quality improvement department as an important source of information about the team’s work. He also reviews patient satisfaction data because the unit is working on increasing patient-centered care. He has met with all team members individually for their own individual evaluation and to discuss team functioning. He presented the following in his evaluation of quality improvement for the past year.

• Patient outcomes were not always what was expected. The team did not meet identified patient outcomes 15% of the time.
• Data indicate an 18% increase in 30-day unplanned rehospitalization rate, an increase from last year.
• The team had an error rate of 13%, which included medication errors. There was an increase in number of decubiti and patient falls (hospital acquired conditions).
• Patient satisfaction rates decreased by 5% from the previous year. Some of the comments made by patients in the survey were: did not know the plan of care, changes made in my plan of care without talking to me, and team rounds were not routine.
• Individual team members commented that there were times during the year that they felt frustrated with the team, with the lack of leadership, and by arguments between some team members, often over who could do some task or patient activity.

The manager asks the team to develop a plan to address each of the points in the manager’s evaluation. This plan needs to be given to the manager within 2 weeks.

1. What should be included in the plan?

Answer 1

the main points that to be included in the plan development are

1. efficient ways to improve the team harmony

can be attained by open talks, doing and helping tasks together, discussing patients conditions, noting down points to improve patient care

2. maintain a good leadership skill

3. formulating proper nursing care plan

4. deligation of duties

the team leader must ensure that the nurses are properly allocated to the patients. nurse patient ratio should be maintained round the clock.

5. focus on patient education

the patient has every right to know what is done on him//her

6. proper nursing rounds to be conducted without fail