Introduction
Safety and quality are fundamental concepts in contemporary health care system. Patient safety refers to protecting patients from any possible danger. On the other hand, quality is the level to which individual health services contribute towards anticipated health results and are in line with current professional guidelines. The availability of nurses in hospitals as well as their expert knowledge enables them to play a significant role in the patient safety (Hood, 2004). Thus, Patient safety is the foundation of high-quality health care. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate safety and quality in nursing improvement.
Patient safety is an important aspect because nurses are devoted to their code of ethics to provide safe, quality and ethical care. Besides, it is of great significance to nurses in all spheres of work. Professional regulatory bodies state that nurses have the mandate to promote patient safety for the right of the public (Hughes, 2008).
The interest of nursing regulatory authorities has been safeguarding the proficiency of individual nurses (Hood, 2004). There have been limited chances to tackle safety issues concerning the health facilities. For instance, in some regions, such bodies are not allowed to inspect hospitals, however; they have aggressively advocated for improved nursing care that has consequently lead to the development of high-quality health care.
The concept of patient safety and quality health care has drawn a substantial attention. It is important to identify factors undermining security to advocate for development. Clinical errors and improper governance are elements that are likely to cause patients harm. A mistake done in the process of providing health care is termed as individual activities, which deviates from professional nursing standards. Errors can be classified according to some people involved, the impact caused, and the ability of prevention.
(Hughes, 2008) Suggests that some mistakes faced in the healthcare are caused on purpose while others occur accidentally. Mistakes executed in medical facilities can be evaded if only causative factors are identified immediately. Therefore, regulatory bodies should affiliate clinical works procedures with external pressure to enhance change and achieve professional development.
Patient safety has been renowned as the core attribute of quality health service. A substantial percentage of clinical governance is accountable for improved patient safety. Efficient clinical management encompasses development and putting into practice of professional guidelines aimed at reducing risks associated with errors and streamlining sectors that are likely to cause clinical errors. All stakeholders have the responsibility of ensuring efficient clinical governance to attain a high degree of performance and improvement. It may involve evaluation of resources and delivery of services.
Studies illustrate that health care system in which nurses are required focuses on attaining better results. Hospitals that emphasize on quality are well organized. Management has the mandate of allocating time to inspect health facilities to have sufficient knowledge regarding their operations and improve on quality. Integrations of different sectors and the management are required to have a proper understanding of quality care. Regulation bodies should liaise with the public to ascertain that performance of patient safety and quality is achieved respectively.
In conclusion, professional guidelines have the potential to improve patient safety and quality. Stakeholders should identify causes of affecting such elements to improve the performance of healthcare systems. Clinical errors and inefficient governance are some of the factors undermining processes of health care. Therefore, all stakeholders have the responsibility of ensuring that standards of safety and quality are meet. Besides, hospital performance is credited by proper coordination of such concepts.
References
Hood, L. J. (2004). Leddy & Pepper’s Conceptual bases of professional nursing (8th ed.) Philadelphia, PA: Walters Kluwer health/ Lippincott Williams & Wilkin
Hughes, R. (2008). Patient safety and quality (1st ed.). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.