The nurse leader on the risk management committee notices an alarming increase in medication errors on a quarterly report.
Which is the first step in initiating a quality improvement project?
Go to the various nursing units and talk with the nurses on a daily basis.
Offer a two-hour educational program for staff about the costs of medication errors.
Collect monthly data at the nursing unit level to isolate specific patterns.
Recommend that the healthcare facility purchase a bar code scanner system.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Going to various nursing units and talking with nurses on a daily basis is not the first step in initiating a quality improvement project when there is an increase in medication errors. While communication with nursing staff is essential, it should come after data collection and analysis to understand the specific patterns and causes of the errors.
Choice B rationale:
Offering a two-hour educational program about the costs of medication errors is a well-intentioned initiative but may not address the immediate need to understand and address the causes of the increase in errors. Education can be part of a broader quality improvement plan, but it should follow data collection and analysis.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct answer. Collecting monthly data at the nursing unit level to isolate specific patterns is the first step in addressing the increase in medication errors. It allows the risk management committee to identify when and where errors are occurring, which is crucial for effective problem-solving and quality improvement.
Choice D rationale:
Recommending the purchase of a bar code scanner system is a solution that should be considered after identifying specific patterns and causes of medication errors. It may be a valuable intervention, but it should come later in the quality improvement process.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
This is the correct answer. A cross-sectional study design involves collecting data from a sample of participants at a single point in time. In this case, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of each child in one school was measured one time at the end of a school year, making it a cross-sectional study.
Choice B rationale:
A quasi-experimental design typically involves an intervention or treatment, which is not described in this scenario. Quasi-experimental studies also often involve multiple measurements over time.
Choice C rationale:
Comparative studies typically involve comparing two or more groups or conditions but may include multiple measurements over time. The scenario describes a single measurement at the end of the school year.
Choice D rationale:
A prospective study typically involves following participants over time, collecting data at multiple points in the future. This scenario involves a single measurement at one point in time.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The description of snowball sampling does not involve stratified random sampling based on whether women reported having postpartum depression. Snowball sampling relies on initial participants referring or recruiting additional participants who meet the criteria. Stratified sampling is a different sampling method.
Choice B rationale:
This is the correct answer. Snowball sampling involves participants who have experienced postpartum depression volunteering and referring others. It relies on a chain-referral process where participants recruit additional participants, which is typical in qualitative research to identify individuals with specific experiences.
Choice C rationale:
While volunteers did agree to participate, the key aspect of snowball sampling is the referral process, where existing participants refer others who meet the criteria. It is not based solely on volunteers learning about others being interviewed.
Choice D rationale:
Listing postpartum clients sequentially and selecting every 4th client does not describe snowball sampling. This approach is more characteristic of systematic or stratified sampling methods, where participants are selected based on predetermined criteria or a specific sampling interval.
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