An Overview of Quality Improvement Processes and Data Analysis in Perioperative Nursing Practice.

AORN sets quality improvement (QI) standards that nurses can use to collect and interpret data. There are a variety of benchmarks available from national organizations and regulatory bodies: AORN provides evidence-based guidelines for perioperative practice, whereas The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services specify patient care requirements. Nurses can use the subject, objective observations, analysis, and plan (SOAP) format to assess, diagnose, plan, and communicate information related to the QI process to key stakeholders.

Nurse-Led Mobility Program: Driving a Culture of Early Mobilization in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

Background: Hospitalized medical-surgical patients are at risk for adverse health outcomes due to immobility. Despite well-documented consequences, low mobility is prevalent.

Local Problem: In a 547-bed hospital, medical-surgical patients were mobilized less frequently than expected.