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STABLE: an acronym for managing the observation-status patient
Dawn Horak1, Sue Hollabaugh, Terry Duffy
1John C Lincoln Hospital NM., Phoenix, Ariz 85020, USA. dhorak@prodigy.net
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
|April 12, 2003
Summary
Nurse managers improved clinical assessment and documentation using a simple acronym-based education strategy. This approach enhanced nursing practice and patient care quality on a medical/surgical/telemetry unit.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Quality Improvement
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Increasing patient acuity and new nursing staff present challenges to quality of care.
- Cumbersome documentation processes can negatively impact patient outcomes.
- Nurse managers require innovative strategies to mitigate risks and enhance care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve clinical assessment and documentation skills among nursing staff.
- To implement an educational strategy focused on the determinants of STABLE.
- To evaluate the impact of this education on nursing practice.
Main Methods:
- A 36-bed medical/surgical/telemetry unit implemented an educational program.
- The program utilized a simple acronym to teach 6 key points of care.
- Nursing documentation was evaluated post-implementation.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in nursing documentation were observed after the educational intervention.
- The acronym-based approach facilitated recall of key care concepts.
- Enhanced competence in clinical assessment was a key outcome.
Conclusions:
- Acronym-based education is an effective strategy for improving nursing competence in clinical assessment and documentation.
- This approach can positively impact the quality of patient care.
- Creative strategies are vital for nurse managers to address challenges in healthcare settings.