Read your module guide for more information.
Summative Assessment
Assessment type: a 2000-word care/case study.
You should critically analyse and evaluate an incident/event/situation that you observed and experienced that placed the patient’s safety at risk and compromised the quality of health outcomes. Describe and discuss the assessment strategies and significant interventions that showed the reduction or elimination of harm. Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and related actions with consideration to the legal, ethical and professional frameworks. Reflect on your role as a nursing associate in patient safety and quality improvement.
Module learning outcomes
You will need to demonstrate you meet the following module learning outcomes:
1. Appraise the principles of safety and quality improvement in care and evidence-based practice across health and social care, including the role of patients/ service users/ carers and families at the centre of health care delivery
2. Critically analyse and reflect on the role of the nursing associate as working in partnership with service users, families and the wider healthcare team to support the diversity in individual needs.
3. Integrate strategies for assessing, planning and implementing care pathways across a range of clinical scenarios, acknowledging own limitations.
4. Critically analyse safe, effective nursing practice in a relevant clinical scenario whilst developing problem-solving skills in maintaining safe patient care.
Guidance Suggested Reflective models:
As this is not an assignment requiring you to discuss a reflective model in any depth, you can choose whichever model you prefer to outline your reflection patient safety.
Suggested Structure:
Introduction:
150 words 1- What are you going to write about? including description of the patient care setting.
2- Identify a care/case scenario – background to patient details
3- State the event or incident of this care/case study that were raising concerns about the quality of health outcomes.
4- State which principles of patient centred care you will address as relevant.
5- State how you will write a critical analysis of the incident/event addressing the safety needs of that patient.
6- State that you want to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and attitudes, with observations, assessment of risk of harm, communicate with team, implement the use of safety measures, evaluate the patient outcomes to show safe practice.
Incident/event
350 words 1- You need to briefly describe a situation/scenario which clearly identifies the needs of the patient and the associated risks of harm or failure.
2- Give further relevant background to the patient, for example diagnosis or behaviour, which would give rise to the main problem, putting patient safety at risk or lead to compromised safety.
3- Focus on ONE problem, give background research informed evidence about the event/incident from the literature.
4- What were the legal and ethical frameworks involved
Assessment
500 words 1- Describe which health professionals were involved in the incident? And what were their roles/part played?
2- How did you assess the situation/incident/event, what evidence-based approach did you use/was used?
3- Describe and explain the critical exploration of the incident with assessment tools, supported with evidence.
4- Identify the patient’s health status, where relevant the physical, behavioural, emotional and spiritual dimensions of health outcomes.
5- Discuss the importance of communication in the whole process.
Intervention(s)
500 words 6- Discuss the intervention(s) in order of priorities, as relevant in:
5.1 in prevention of harm or further harm;
5.2 in follow-up actions and safety of patient;
5.3 in ensuring the elimination/reduction of risk of harm; OR
5.4 strategies for quality of care.
This section should show how teamwork, partnership with service users, families and the wider healthcare team supported significant interventions.
You should demonstrate an evidence-based approach.
Evaluation
400 words 1- Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and relate this to the overall safety outcomes in the given situation.
2- Discuss the patient’s involvement and responsibilities in ensuring safety.
3- Evaluate the legal and professional issues that may have impacted on patient safety.
4- Critically evaluate the influence you had on the situation and the patient’s experiences and health outcomes?
Conclusion
100 words 1- Conclude with clear evidence-based recommendations concerning the practices in patient safety.
2- What have you learned about quality improvement in promoting patient safety as a Nursing Associate?
3- What have you added to your learning and competences?
