Understanding quality patient care and the role of the practicing nurse

Abstract

Nurses play a vital role in improving the safety and quality of patient care. The authors provide the front-line nurse providers with an overview of critical concepts related to quality management of patient care. A historical approach provides the reader with an overview of the trajectory or the quality in health care movement. Furthermore, the article provides the nurse with a basic understanding of national and international organizations that focus on quality patient care. A brief introduction of measures of quality care is presented as well as implications for nursing practice.

Keywords: Affordable Care Act; Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health care quality; Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI); National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI); The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).