Introduction: Patterns exist in every clinical microsystem but often go unnoticed, unacknowledged, or unleveraged (used to improve how the microsystem functions). For example, some patterns are obvious such as things that are routinely measured in your clinical microsystem to track effectiveness, efficiency, and/or safety (e.g., falls, infection rates, patient satisfaction surveys, medication errors, sentinel events). Yet, there may be patterns associated with this that are present, but not acknowledged. For example, how often is this data collected? How is the data communicated to professionals in the microsystem? Who talks to whom about key functions in the microsystem? Who never talks to whom? How is this data used to improve care in your clinical microsystem? Another important, but often unrecognized pattern is interruptions in providing care (medications, treatments, admitting and discharge processes) or unplanned activities that interrupt normal processes and procedures. When admitting a new patient to the unit, there may not only be interruptions, but there may be missing supplies needed to care for the patient or missing test results or an incomplete medication record. Finally, there are undesired patterns that may operate in every microsystem. An undesired pattern might include inconsistencies in the way nurses communicate information during patient handoffs or other communication failures between microsystem members (physician to nurse; nurse to unit clerk; inconsistent communication of information to patients; conflict between shifts; etc.). All of these patterns (and more) can be recognized and used to identify areas needing improvement in the clinical microsystem.
Clinical Microsystem Assessment #5: PATTERNS. (Minimum 2 pages; Maximum 4 pages, 7th edition APA format).
You may need to meet with your Unit Manager to obtain all of the information required in each section. If you are unable to get the information in some categories, explain how not having this information poses challenges in your ability to assess this topic and its implications for identifying potential areas for improving your clinical microsystem. The points can be re-earned by including this information in the write-up of the final project.
Organize the paper using the following headings: Introduction, Leadership and Social Patterns, Measurements that Matter, Patterns of Unplanned Activity, Undesired Patterns, Microsystem Patterns: Strengths and Weaknesses. Content that should be addressed in each section includes:
I. Introduction: In 1 paragraph, introduce your clinical microsystem and explain why the Patterns Assessment is important to improving the microsystem’s efficiency, outcomes, and safety. Use one citation from the textbook and/or module readings to support the introductory content.
II. Leadership and Social Patterns: In 1-2 paragraphs, describe the leadership and social patterns on your unit as they relate to patient care. For example, Do all members of the microsystem meet as a team to discuss safety, patient outcomes, and efficiency issues? How often do they meet; who calls the meetings; who leads; how do attendees interact with leadership at these meetings? What are the team members of your clinical microsystem most proud of? What things have been successfully changed in your clinical microsystem?
III. Measurements that Matter: In 1-2 paragraphs, describe something that you see as a priority that is routinely measured in your clinical microsystem to track effectiveness, efficiency, and/or safety (e.g., falls, infection rates, patient satisfaction surveys, medication errors, sentinel events). How often is this data collected? How is the data communicated to professionals in the microsystem? How is this data used to improve care in your clinical microsystem?
IV. Patterns of Unplanned Activity: In 1 paragraph, describe a pattern of interruption to a routine process or procedure in the clinical microsystem. Possible interruptions to consider include: Interruptions that occur when providing care (medications, treatments, ordered procedures/labs), admitting a new patient to the unit, discharging a patient, patient education, missing supplies needed to care for the patient, missing test results or an incomplete medication record. You are encouraged to identify and comment on other patterns of interruption specific to your clinical microsystem. Please be specific when describing the interruption.
V. Undesired Pattern: In 1 paragraph, describe one undesired pattern that occurs in your clinical microsystem. An undesired pattern might include inconsistencies in the way nurses communicate information during patient handoffs or other communication failures between microsystem members (physician to nurse; nurse to unit clerk; inconsistent communication of information to patients; conflict between shifts; etc.). What are the negative effects to patient outcomes, safety, and/or microsystem efficiency that result from this undesirable pattern?
VI. Microsystem Patterns: Strengths and Weaknesses: Use two current (within the last 5 years), peer-reviewed NURSING journals to support the Strengths and Weaknesses content. In 1-2 paragraphs, summarize the complex issues related to Patterns in your clinical microsystem. Identify one Pattern-related strength and one area needing improvement in your clinical microsystem.
This assignment reinforces the following End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes:
Synthesize knowledge from nursing science and liberal studies to apply critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills that improve nursing care of individuals, families, and communities throughout the life span.
Incorporate effective inter-professional communication and collaboration skills in providing safe nursing care that promotes patient preference, mutual respect, and improved health care outcomes.
Analyze the principles of nursing leadership and management in the practice of professional nursing to promote safe and quality outcomes of care in various healthcare environments.
Examine the use of information technology to support the delivery of safe, quality nursing care.
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