Nurses’ knowledge, skills, and competencies determine the quality of their work and affect the well-being of patients. Nurses that acquired competencies identified in the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project can manage and change practices to improve service standards (Sherwood, 2021). While all six established qualities are critical to safety, I would like to highlight quality improvement as one of the most important.
Ensuring patient safety requires continuous improvement, education, and skills development for employees. The competency of quality improvement involves ongoing inquiry and research to assess routine practice critically and search for and implement opportunities for improvement (Sherwood, 2021). This competency helps evaluate the importance of data, value feedback, and use the information received in developing changes. I apply quality improvement by listening to senior colleagues and adapting my performance, and learning to conduct research. As a graduate nurse using the considered competency, I strive to apply evidence-based practice and participate in and develop quality improvement projects. Quality improvement competency reflects the need for continuous development and efforts aimed at progress in the provision of health services.
Thus, QSEN competencies occupy an important place in the training of nurses, and their acquisition will allow employees to change practice for the better. Although all competencies are essential for patient safety, I highlight quality improvement among them. It emphasizes the importance of nursing inquiry, research, analysis, and critical evaluation. Research makes it possible to introduce innovations and improve practice by promoting progress in health services. As a consequence, there are new opportunities to support patient safety. Being a nurse, I intend to actively use this competence by applying EBP, participating in improvement projects, and supporting continuing education.
Reference
Sherwood, G. (2021). Quality and Safety Education for Nurses: Making progress in patient safety, learning from COVID-19. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 8(3), 249–251. Web.