Threading QSEN Competencies Across a Baccalaureate Nursing Program: The Development of Dedicated QSEN Labs.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Quality and Safety
• Competency-Based Education

Background:

• Development of Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies.
• Observed lower standardized test scores in nursing students.
• Initiation of three safety and quality labs in a baccalaureate nursing curriculum at a midwestern university.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate QSEN competencies into a traditional baccalaureate nursing curriculum.
• To enhance nursing students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes in patient safety and quality care.
• To evaluate the impact of safety and quality labs on student confidence and competency.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of three sequential safety and quality labs over three semesters.
• Intentional integration of all six QSEN competencies within the labs.
• Development of leveled learning activities aligned with QSEN competencies across the curriculum.

Main Results:

• All six QSEN competencies served as a framework for learning essential nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• Students dedicated most time to learning safety, followed by teamwork, quality improvement, patient-centered care, informatics, and evidence-based practice.
• Students reported increased knowledge and confidence in applying all six QSEN competencies post-completion of the labs.

Conclusions:

• QSEN competencies effectively provide a framework for teaching pre-licensure nursing students essential professional attributes.
• The labs progressed from foundational individual patient safety to intermediate and advanced concepts including system safety and teamwork.
• Students expressed enhanced knowledge and confidence in the application of all six QSEN competencies after participating in the safety and quality labs.