Nurses play an important role in empowering both patients and other nurses. They can empower patients by providing information on treatment options and supporting patients' rights to make their own healthcare decisions. Nurses can also empower themselves and their colleagues by using quality improvement data from sources like the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators to identify areas for practice improvement and develop action plans. Empowering patients through education and respecting their autonomy helps improve healthcare quality, while empowering nurses with data leads to higher job satisfaction and better patient outcomes.

1. Discussion Week 4- Nurse/Patient Empowerment
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Nurse/Patient Empowerment in PracticeIntroductionAs a registered nurse, you have the
power to influence change in patient outcomes. An important aspect of influencing change
is identifying areas that need improvement. This is done primarily through measurement of
data. There are several different measures to gather data within organizations as well as on
a national scale. Some of these measurements include core measures, standards, best
practices, evidence-based practices, and the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators
(NDNQI). These support mechanisms have also been discussed as a means for helping
nurses to deliver quality care and improve patient safety. Each measurement essentially
focuses on providing care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and
equitable. Although there are several different measurements, NDNQI data is used in the
process of attaining Magnet Recognition. Magnet Recognition is the highest honor a health
care organization can receive for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. The
nurse-specific measures presented in the NDNQI help inform nursing staffs and their
organizations of areas where nursing practices can be improved and where nursing practice
efforts are producing positive clinical outcomes. Nurses must be directly involved in
developing and implementing action plans based on the data presented by the NDNQI.This
week, you will explore the importance of nurse empowerment in effecting change and how
action plans are created based on the results of the NDNQI as presented on a dashboard.
You will also consider how nurses advocate for patients’ rights, even when that means
supporting a patient whose personal choices may have negative health outcomes. Learning
ObjectivesStudents will:Evaluate strategies to empower both the nurse and the patient to
improve quality of careAnalyze the use of National Database of Nursing Quality Indictors for
nurse empowerment in practiceAnalyze nurse empowerment in relation to use of quality
improvement data for practice Analyze practice experiences for patient or nurse
empowermentAnalyze quality improvement dashboards for nursing plans Note: The
Assignment related to these Learning Objectives is introduced this week and submitted in
Week 5.Photo Credit: [Eva Katalin Kondoros]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty
Images Learning Resources Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please
click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your

2. Syllabus.Required ReadingsBrown, D. S., Aydin, C. E., & Donaldson, N. (2008). Quartile
dashboards: Translating large data sets into performance improvement priorities. Journal
of Healthcare Quality, 30(6), 18–30. doi: 10.1111/j.1945-1474.2008.tb01166.xNote: You
will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Typically, references should be
within five to seven years of publication. However, this publication is considered a classical
research reference pertaining to quality improvement and the use of data sets.Cole, C.,
Wellard, S., & Mummery, J. (2014). Problematising autonomy and advocacy in nursing.
Nursing Ethics, 21(5), 576–582. doi: 10.1177/0969733013511362Note: You will access this
article from the Walden Library databases.Garrard, L., Boyle, D. K., Simon, M., Dunton, N., &
Gajewski, B. (2016). Reliability and validity of the NDNQI® injury falls measure. Western
Journal of Nursing Research, 38(1), 111–128. doi: 10.1177/019394591454281Note: You
will access this article from the Walden Library databases.Giancarlo, C., Comparcini, D., &
Simonetti, V. (2014). Workplace empowerment and nurses’ job satisfaction: A systematic
literature review. Journal of Nursing Management, 22(7), 855–871. doi:
10.1111/jonm.12028Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library
databases.Guglielmi, C. L., Stratton, M., Healy, G. B., Shapiro, D., Duffy, W. J., Dean, B. L., &
Groah, L. K. (2014). The growing role of patient engagement: Relationship-based care in a
changing health care system. AORN, 99(4), 517–528. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2014.02.007Note:
You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.Rock, M. J., & Hoebeke, R.
(2014). Informed consent: Whose duty to inform? MEDSURG Nursing, 23(3), 189–194.
Retrieved from
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=9&si
d=273f009b-d8f5-4cd8-8f01-0973c944bcf7%40sessionmgr104&hid=107Note: You will
access this article from the Walden Library databases.American Hospital Association.
(2003). The patient care partnership: Understanding expectations, rights and
responsibilities. Retrieved from http://www.aha.org/content/00-
10/pcp_english_030730.pdf Read through this document created by the American Hospital
Association. This document was created for inpatient hospital stays. However, it is
applicable to other practice settings as well.Montalvo, I. (2007). The national database of
nursing quality indicators. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 12(3). Retrieved from
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJI
N/TableofContents/Volume122007/No3Sept07/NursingQualityIndicators.htmlInstitute for
Healthcare Improvement. (2016). Retrieved from
http://www.ihi.org/Pages/default.aspx The IHI offers numerous resources for improving
nursing practice and patient care. Explore a variety of topics and examine some of the
resources available.National Quality Forum. (2016b). Retrieved from
http://www.qualityforum.org/Home.aspx The National Quality Forum (NQF) strives to
improve patient safety and reduce medical errors. Explore the NQF’s endorsed standards
and consider how they apply to nursing practice.Document: Dashboard Directions (Word
document)Document: Sample Dashboard (Excel spreadsheet)Required MediaLaureate
Education. (Producer). (2009a). Topics in clinical nursing: Accountability and nursing
practice [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Note: The approximate length of this media
piece is 15 minutes. Discussion: Nurse/Patient Empowerment As a nurse, you are the

3. individual who has the ability to empower patients in the decision-making process
pertaining to their health care. In addition, you are in a unique position to empower your
nursing colleagues to improve job satisfaction and use performance indicator data from
dashboards to effect social change. In this week’s Learning Resources, you examined both
the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and the key role nurses play
as advocates for patient rights. To assist nurses in being better prepared for this role,
programs such as Patient Care Partnership provide guidance. For this Discussion, you will
analyze the use of quality improvement data and discuss how this data can help empower
both patients and nurses. Review the Patient Care Partnership information presented in this
week’s Learning Resources. In addition, reflect on the media presentation and the
information shared by Ms. Manna on patients’ rights. By Day 3Respond to the
following: What are the best strategies the nurse can employ to empower patients and
support patients’ rights to improve quality of care? (Some considerations to keep in mind
may include: providing information on effectiveness, risks, and benefits of alternative
treatments.)In what ways can NDNQI data from dashboards or quality improvement data be
used to support nurse empowerment in practice? How has your institution empowered the
nursing staff through the use of quality improvement data?Provide an example of how you
have personally empowered either a patient or a fellow nurse.Support your response with
references from the professional nursing literature.Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least
250–350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text
citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional
material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into
your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5
years old).