Influencing a Culture of Quality and Safety Through Huddles.

Background: Literature shows that interdisciplinary huddles help promote clear communication and proactive reporting of potential errors.

Local Problem: High reliability organization (HRO) and just culture models were implemented, yet fragmented team communication about patient safety remained. Huddles were implemented to identify and address patient safety issues.

Effects of Implementing an Acuity Tool on a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Staff shortages, reduced budgets, and high acuity of violent psychiatric patients can create challenges in psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Local Problem: Staffing of the psychiatric unit was based on patient census rather than evidence-based practices.

Methods: A pre-/postintervention design was used to examine changes in nursing satisfaction and patient outcomes as measured with the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) survey results.