HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT 1

Health Care Environment

According to the National League for Nursing (NLN, 2017), nurse educator competency

VI is to “pursue continuous quality improvements” (p. 1). This competency closely aligns with

Ferris State University’s, Master of Nursing program outcome of health care environment which

is defined as “facilitate change to improve quality outcomes” (Ferris State University, 2013, p.

1). Quality improvement is significant to health care. As health care providers, we are constantly

working towards improving the quality of care we provide. As a nurse educator, it is important to

be involved in quality improvement projects, educate on quality improvement initiatives, and

inspire staff to improve the quality of health care.

The first artifact, “Vulnerable Risk Population,” is a paper regarding the need for quality

improvement in the way we care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning

(LGBTQ) patients. This paper states that the health care system in general is not meeting these

patient’s needs and often isolating them from seeking medical treatment. This paper also

discusses how important it is for educators to instruct nursing professionals on the proper way to

provide care, as LGBTQ patient’s have a unique set of needs.

The second artifact, “Health Care Issue Analysis,” discusses the health care issue of

patient to nurse staffing ratios. The overall quality of health care depends on the nursing staff

having adequate resources to provide a high quality of care. When resources are unavailable, or a

unit is operating without the proper amount of staff needed to care for patients, the quality of the

health care is jeopardized. Evaluating the effects of inadequate staffing ratios and performing

research regarding this topic it will help the nurse understand how staffing ratios are related to

the quality of care.

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The third artifact, “Infection Control and Isolation Precautions,” discusses how proper

isolation precautions relate to the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)

competencies. Having the knowledge, skills, and attitude to understand and practice proper

isolation precautions will improve the quality of health care by reducing hospital acquired

infections.
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References

Ferris State University. (2013). Ferris State University School of Nursing Organizing

Framework. Retrieved from https://ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/pdfs-

docs/SON-Organizing-Framework-2013.pdf

National League for Nursing. (2017). Nurse Educator Core Competency. Retrieved from

http://www.nln.org/professional-development-programs/competencies-for-nursing-

education/nurse-educator-core-competency