Integrating quality and safety content into clinical teaching in the acute care setting

Teaching the highest quality and safest practice has long been a goal of faculty members in pre-licensure nursing education programs. This article will describe innovative approaches to integrating quality and safety content into existing clinical practica. The core competencies identified by the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses project--patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics--serve as the framework for the teaching/learning exercises. The strategies described require a shift in attention rather than changes in course content and can be included in any clinical rotation in an acute care setting.