Rationale and key points

Measuring and enhancing the quality of patient care has become a central aspect of healthcare. Quality improvement (QI) can have many purposes, but its overall aim is to enhance patient care in a structured and systematic manner. It is essential that nurses, as part of the healthcare team, understand the importance of QI and their role in QI projects. Nurses who lead QI projects need the knowledge and skills required to do so effectively within their level of competence.

• The Model for Improvement based on the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle has become a framework of reference for QI.

• It is important to allocate sufficient time to the planning stage of a QI project and clearly identify the issues and their root causes, what interventions to test and how to measure success.

• Involving stakeholders from the outset, eliciting their views and gaining their support, is a major determinant of success.

Reflective activity

‘How to’ articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of:

• How this article might improve your skills in planning a QI project.

• How you could use this information to educate nursing students or colleagues about the appropriate steps in planning a QI project.