CQI in the acute care setting: an opportunity to influence acute care practice

Continuous quality improvement is a tool and a methodology that allows nephrology nurses to monitor, evaluate, and creatively improve their working environment. Using an established, consistent, and easily understood format enables information sharing and facilitates progress toward establishing best practice guidelines and standards. Strengthening the nursing knowledge base improves the care provided to patients, which improves outcomes. Use of CQI methods can facilitate better processes, which in turn influence acute care practice. The cycle and the process never end since new knowledge is critical to provide the best care to patients. The Acute Care SIG will continue the PDCA cycle to Act in response to the changing needs of patients in the acute care setting and to our membership in the acute care arena.