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Concept Evaluation Using the PDSA Cycle for Continuous Quality Improvement
Delois Meyer Laverentz1, Sharon Kumm
1About the Authors Delois Meyer Laverentz, MN, RN, CCRN-K, is a clinical assistant professor, University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City, Kansas. Sharon Kumm, MN, MS, CNE, is program director, RN-BSN and Partnership Programs, University of Kansas School of Nursing. For more information, contact Ms. Laverentz at dlaverentz@kumc.edu.
Abstract:
As concept-based nursing education gains popularity, there is little literature on how to sustain quality after initiation of the curriculum. Critical appraisal of concepts in a university program revealed varying definitions, attributes, and exemplars resulting in student confusion. The Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle for continuous quality improvement was used for concept evaluation. The goals of the evaluation project were: 1) to develop common definition and attributes for concepts and 2) to develop horizontal and vertical leveling of exemplars to build on prior student learning. The continuous quality improvement process can be used to prevent "concept creep" and ensure internal consistency of concept definitions, attributes, and exemplars.