Preparing for a Joint Commission Survey: An Innovative Approach to Learning

Graduate nurses report feeling unprepared for accreditation site visits, including the promotion of a safe, functional, supportive environment to preserve safety and quality through the provision of care, treatment, and services for patients. To address this gap, an academic health system's department of quality and a school of nursing collaborated on a three-phase capstone course for senior-level BSN students. The course included simulation training for all students; volunteers performed Environment of Care rounds and patient care record audits in the hospital setting. Nineteen students, who performed 74 rounds and 193 audits, reported feeling more knowledgeable during site visits.