Original Research: Exploring Frontline Nurses' Self-Perceived Levels of QI Engagement and QI Competence

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality
• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Nurse engagement in quality improvement (QI) is essential for high-quality patient care.
• Limited research exists on frontline nurses' involvement in QI initiatives.
• Understanding QI engagement and competence is vital for improving healthcare outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and contrast the self-reported levels of QI engagement and competence among frontline nurses and nurse leaders.
• To identify specific areas of QI knowledge, skills, and attitudes in nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed.
• The Nursing Quality Improvement in Practice (NQuIP) tool was used to measure QI engagement and competence.
• Data were collected from a convenience sample of frontline nurses and nurse leaders across 66 healthcare sites.

Main Results:

• Out of 6,351 respondents, only 52.5% reported participating in QI activities.
• Nurses demonstrated high knowledge scores but low scores in QI-related skills, particularly in using QI tools.
• Nurse leaders exhibited significantly higher engagement and competence in QI compared to frontline nurses.

Conclusions:

• Nurse engagement in QI is currently limited, potentially due to deficits in QI-related skills.
• While nurses possess strong QI knowledge, their practical skills require development.
• Healthcare leaders should focus on enhancing nurse engagement in QI to achieve superior patient outcomes.