Nursing

NDNQI lessons learned

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, June 5, 2007

While benchmarking nursing quality measures based on the American Nurses Association National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI), Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, HI, has discovered three valuable lessons. "We have been participating in the NDNQI for over four years and the following have been three of our most valuable lessons learned," says Cindy Kamikawa, RN, MS, CNA, CNO, vice president of nursing.

  1. Drive the data to the unit. You must have unit-specific data that is available in a timely manner and in an easy-to-understand presentation for staff.
  2. Require unit councils to examine the NDNQI data and make decisions on how to improve care. Queens found that unit councils had been discussing agenda items such as remodeling the nurses unit, which was discussion best suited in a staff meeting, not in a unit council meeting.
  3. Give balloons and sweets to units that exceed goals (e.g., treats were dispended to one of the ICUs that had zero incidents of ventilator-acquired pneumonia for six months).

Source: Cindy Kamikawa, RN, MS, CNA

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