The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative, launched in 2005, aimed to revolutionize nursing education by integrating contemporary knowledge and skills related to safety and quality (Cronenwett et al., 2007). This initiative resulted in the development of six core competencies for pre-licensure nursing students, encompassing patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics. These competencies have been widely adopted and have had a significant impact on nursing education and practice.
Key Facts
- QSEN Initiative: The QSEN initiative was launched in 2005 to integrate modern knowledge and skills related to safety and quality into nursing education.
- Six Competencies: The QSEN initiative established six competencies of knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) for pre-licensure nursing degree students.
a. Patient-Centered Care: This competency focuses on providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.
b. Teamwork and Collaboration: This competency emphasizes the ability to work effectively with other healthcare professionals to provide safe and high-quality care.
c. Evidence-Based Practice: This competency involves integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to make informed healthcare decisions.
d. Quality Improvement: This competency focuses on using data to monitor outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to enhance patient care.
e. Safety: This competency emphasizes the ability to minimize risk of harm to patients and healthcare providers through effective use of technology and standardized practices.
f. Informatics: This competency involves using information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making. - Student Perceptions: A systematic review of the literature found that pre-licensure nursing students perceived patient-centered care as the most discussed competency and quality improvement as the competency least reviewed in their curricula.
- Systems Thinking: The QSEN initiative has evolved to incorporate systems thinking, which involves considering the broader healthcare system and its impact on quality and safety.
QSEN Competencies: A Review
The six QSEN competencies are designed to equip nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to deliver high-quality, safe patient care.
Patient-Centered Care
This competency emphasizes providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.
Teamwork and Collaboration
This competency highlights the ability to work effectively with other healthcare professionals to provide safe and high-quality care.
Evidence-Based Practice
This competency involves integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to make informed healthcare decisions.
Quality Improvement
This competency focuses on using data to monitor outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to enhance patient care.
Safety
This competency emphasizes the ability to minimize the risk of harm to patients and healthcare providers through effective use of technology and standardized practices.
Informatics
This competency involves using information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.
QSEN Competencies and Systems Thinking
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of systems thinking in nursing education and practice. Systems thinking involves considering the broader healthcare system and its impact on quality and safety. This perspective acknowledges that individual actions and decisions can have ripple effects throughout the healthcare system, and that interventions aimed at improving care must take into account the complex interactions between different components of the system (Batalden & Mohr, 1997; Batalden & Stoltz, 1993).
The integration of systems thinking into the QSEN competencies has been a natural evolution, as it aligns with the initiative’s goal of preparing nurses to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in complex healthcare environments. By incorporating systems thinking into nursing education, students can develop a deeper understanding of how their actions and decisions impact the broader healthcare system and how they can contribute to system-level improvements.
Conclusion
The QSEN competencies have had a profound impact on nursing education and practice, providing a framework for preparing nurses to deliver high-quality, safe patient care. The integration of systems thinking into the QSEN competencies further enhances their relevance and applicability in today’s complex healthcare environment. By embracing systems thinking, nurses can develop a deeper understanding of how their actions and decisions impact the broader healthcare system and how they can contribute to system-level improvements.
FAQs
What are the QSEN competencies?
The QSEN competencies are six core competencies that encompass patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics. These competencies were developed to equip nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to deliver high-quality, safe patient care.
When were the QSEN competencies published?
The QSEN competencies were first published in 2007.
Why were the QSEN competencies developed?
The QSEN competencies were developed in response to the Institute of Medicine’s reports on the need to improve the American healthcare system. These reports highlighted the need to redesign systems of care to better serve patients in the complex healthcare environment.
How are the QSEN competencies used?
The QSEN competencies are used to guide nursing education and practice. They provide a framework for preparing nurses to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in complex healthcare environments.
What is the importance of systems thinking in the QSEN competencies?
Systems thinking is important in the QSEN competencies because it helps nurses to understand how their actions and decisions impact the broader healthcare system. This perspective allows nurses to identify and address system-level issues that may be contributing to poor quality or unsafe care.
How can nurses integrate systems thinking into their practice?
Nurses can integrate systems thinking into their practice by considering the broader healthcare system and its impact on patient care. This can be done by examining how different components of the healthcare system interact with each other and how individual actions and decisions can have ripple effects throughout the system.
What are some examples of systems thinking in nursing practice?
Examples of systems thinking in nursing practice include:
- Identifying and addressing system-level issues that may be contributing to patient falls.
- Developing and implementing protocols to improve communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals.
- Using data to monitor outcomes and identify areas for improvement in patient care.
- Advocating for changes to policies and procedures that may be putting patients at risk.
How can nurses learn more about systems thinking?
Nurses can learn more about systems thinking by taking continuing education courses, attending workshops, and reading books and articles on the topic. There are also a number of online resources available that can help nurses to learn about systems thinking.