Author: Bodhi Health Education

Nursing Sensitive Indicators and its impact on Accreditation

Accreditation in Healthcare- Role of Nursing Sensitive Quality Indicators

The current trend in healthcare is encouraging organizations to acquire ‘accreditation’ with national (NABH) and international organizations (JCI). The process not only helps the institution to demonstrate quality patient care, understand lacunae, scope of improvement but also enhancing their reputation as healthcare providers.

Accreditation in Healthcare– What does it mean?

Accreditation is granting recognition or certification to an institution that maintain defined benchmark standards. Accreditation in healthcare happens through a review process where the healthcare organization is allowed to demonstrate their ability to meet regulatory standards.

Who defines the standards?

Usually the healthcare organization have to meet the standards that are defined by a recognized accreditation organization for example:

Joint Commission International (JCI)- Joint commission international is one of the relied upon international accreditation body known for its standards and stringent quality evaluation process. Learn more about JCI here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=19ffgRFCt8Y

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)-  It is the Indian accreditation body established to operate the accreditation program of health care organizations. Learn more about NABH here:

 

 

How does accreditation help?

In Healthcare, accreditation has multiple benefits. It influences organization, patient and the professionals like nurses as well.

1. Benefits to the Patient- Patient gets quality care from credentialed professionals where patient satisfaction is given preference and their rights are respected.

2. Benefit to Healthcare Organization- Healthcare organization gets to keep abreast with the benchmark standards, ensuring quality care with increased confidence of the society in the services provided by the organization.

Click to know more:

3. Benefits to Healthcare professionals- Healthcare professionals’ credentials are part of the assessment process during the accreditation process. It ensures that the professionals are updated and also checks that there competency is assessed periodically. For example nurses need to be trained in performing CPR and must be given a chance to update through in-service education.

To learn more you may enroll for the CPR course here: /product/cardio-pulmonary-resuscitation-cpr-adult/

Role of Nursing Sensitive Indicators during Accreditation

Quality indicators as such are important to achieve the target of getting an organization accreditation. Though the review of literature presents a complex picture, quality indicators are very important to enhance the quality of healthcare services undergoing accreditation process. Nursing sensitive indicators generally refers to various aspects of nursing care including the following:

Nursing sensitive indicators

1. Structure Indicators- These include nursing manpower, competency or skill level of nursing staff and education as well as certification levels of nursing staff.

2. Process Indicators- Includes patient assessment methods and nursing interventions.

3. Outcome Indicators- These refer to outcome of patients depending upon the quality of nursing care provided such as patient fall, pressure ulcers, infections and patient satisfaction with nursing care.

During the accreditation assessment process all these aspects are assessed for nursing professionals.

Improving the Nursing Sensitive Indicators- Getting ready for the Accreditation!

As a nurse leader, one often faces challenge to allocate and manage resources ensuring the quality of care a patient receives. Let us learn about what you can do as nursing professionals to focus on structure, process and outcome standards which you may be asked about during the accreditation process and how to prepare yourself for that in advance.

Structure Indicators

  • Nursing Manpower- Nursing manpower is crucial and a difficult area to conquer. It is forte of the HR and chief of nursing together. To ease the efforts and to follow the league as nurse leaders try the advance tools available. One such system is acuity based staffing. Such systems are based on patient requirement. For example a nurse can be allocated to one, two or multiple patients based on needs with patient categorized as dependent, semi-dependent and independent. Learn more about staffing here:

  • Skill assessment– Nursing skill assessment is done in many organization periodically by education department. However, in India, competency based assessment is very limited. Do note that accreditation agency look out for these parameters.

  • Certification and Continuing education- The education team has to often present the record of nursing staff during the accreditation. The staff nurses might be picked up randomly and the records may have to display in front of the auditor. Nurse educators often struggle to reach every nurse for updating them. Switch to online education for easy access and record maintenance. This can help you as educator to track the progress of individual nurses and also provide flexibility to the nurses to learn at their own pace and anywhere they want. Follow the link to know more: https://bodhilabs.ai/product-category/nursingcourses/

Process Indicators

  • Patient assessment methods and nursing interventions- Patient assessment methods should be relevant but should not overburden the nurses. The purpose of assessment methods is to ensure minimize the loop holes in care provided to the patients. A measure to ensure quality care by the nurses. Nurses must be involved in the care assessment pathways developed for the patient care. Latest addition to the care pathways is to develop decision support systems which not only guides the nurses what to assess but what action they must take next. Follow the link to know more:

 

Outcome Indicators

These indicators are the most crucial Nursing Sensitive Indicators as these are directly related to patient outcome.

  • Patient Fall- Patient fall is one of the most dreaded incident on the list of a clinical nurse as well the whole caring team. Fall can cause internal injury, laceration, fractures and bleeding. Studies show that about ‘one-third’ of the hospital falls are preventable. Especially in elder population fall can be important cause of mortality and morbidity. Causes are many including previous history of fall, drugs, and other causes such as visual disability or neurological impairment. Assessment tools are available and must be used by nursing professionals to avoid the events.

Patient fall

Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has proposed fall prevention program called STEADI (Stop Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries). Follow the link to know more: STEADI Pocket Guide

STEADI tool kit for Healthcare Providers:

  • Hospital Acquired Pressure ulcers (HAPU)- HAPU indicates the poor quality of care in a healthcare set up. Especially if the pressure ulcer progresses to stage 3 or 4, it can cause infection, mortality and morbidity and also increases the length of stay of a patient.

Florence Nightingale in 1859 wrote:

“If he has a bedsore, it’s generally not the fault of the disease, but of the nursing”

Though it has been supported by many studies that the entire team (doctors, nurses, physiotherapist and dietician) is responsible if a patient develops pressure ulcer but it largely falls on the shoulders of nursing team. Assessment is the key to prevention for most of the outcome based quality indicators. Braden scale is reliable and popular scale used in healthcare setting to assess the risk of pressure ulcer as development of pressure ulcer is affected by many factors. Here are the components of Braden scale.

Learn how to assess stages of pressure ulcers. It is very important that nurses look out for patient vulnerable surfaces every day and pick early signs of pressure ulcer.

Stage I pressure ulcer- It is characterized by intact skin with non-blanching erythema.

NOTE: This is an important time to identify pressure ulcer and many professionals fumble about identifying the stage I pressure ulcers. If the nurses are careful to document there are chances that the pressure ulcer is detected only when it reaches stage II.

Stage-1 pressure ulcer

 

How to test for Non-blanchable erythema- The classic sign of Stage I pressure ulcer?

  • Apply light pressure on the suspected area for few seconds
  • Release and watch for return to usual skin color

Blanchable- Skin color returns immediately to normal. See blanchable skin.

NOTE- it is normal response.

 

Non-blanchable- Persistent redness or rashes in lightly pigmented skin. See how you can identify non-blanchable

erythema to label it as LEVEL I PRESSURE ULCER.

Stage II pressure ulcer- Pressure ulcer turns into an open ulcer involving epidermis, dermis or both.

stage 2 pressure ulcer

 

Stage III pressure ulcer- It involves full-thickness tissue loss with visible subcutaneous fat.

stage 3 pressure ulcer

 

Stage IV pressure ulcer- In stage IV the pressure ulcer has involves underlying muscle and bone.

stage 4 pressure ulcer

See link to know more about staging, back care and management of pressure ulcer here:

https://bodhilabs.ai/product/care-of-patient-with-pressure-injury-bed-sore/

  • Central line associated blood stream infection- A central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is infection that occurs when organisms enter the bloodstream through the central line.

CDC recommends the following precautions for health professionals to prevent CLABSI:

  1. Perform hand hygiene.
  2. Apply skin antiseptic.
  3. Ensure that the skin preparation agent is completely dried before inserting the central line.
  4. Use maximal sterile barrier precautions including sterile gloves sterile gown, cap, mask and sterile drape.
  5. Once the central line is placed follow recommended central line maintenance practices. Wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after touching the line
  6. Remove a central line as soon as it is no longer needed.
  7. Also find the checklist proposed by CDC called the CLABSI bundle.

https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/bsi/checklist-for-CLABSI.pdf

  • Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection- Urinary tract infections account for 40% of all hospital-acquired infections and 80% of such infections are known to be associated with indwelling urethral catheters.

CAUTI Prevention- Nurses must consider the following points when planning to insert a catheter.

  • Insert catheter only when indicated. Consider other options such as condom drainage or intermittent catheterization.
  • Ensure that only trained professionals insert the catheter. You may access the course here:

Urinary Catheterization

  • Follow sterile technique during insertion of catheter.
  • Minimize days of insertion. Remove catheter as soon as possible.
  • Maintain close drainage system.
  • Practice hand hygiene and standard precaution during patient care.

Learn about Nurse driven protocol to reduce CAUTI by Joint Commission International (JCI) for free:

https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/spotlight-on-success-implementing-nurse-driven-protocols-to-reduce-cautis/

Restraints- Use of restraint in hospitalized patient especially in ICU patients is practiced is listed as a nursing quality indicator by National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators in US. Many times it becomes difficult to avoid the use of restraints but it is always suggested that restraints be used as a last resort when patient poses threat to self or others.

Types of Restraints-

Types of restraints

 

Physical restraints- These restraints restrict or control the movement or behavior. These include hand mittens, belts, bed rails, lap cushions etc.

Chemical restraints- These restraint control the movements or behavior through medications such as tranquilizers and sedatives.

Nursing responsibilities when a patient is prescribed restraints:

  • Observe patient every 15 minutes for the first hour of restraint and subsequently as per the age every 2 hourly or 4 hourly.
  • Assess physical condition of the patient including, vitals, hydration, nutrition, and joints of extremities being restraint, comfort of the patient and hygiene needs.
  • Psychological status and need for further revision of orders.
  • Assess patient for continuous need for restraint and patient behaviors during temporarily removal of restraints.
  • Special care should be given to the area where the restraint is applied example hands must be assessed when using wrist restraint or mittens as restraints for any injury resulting from the restraint.

Outcome indicators must be monitored, documented and reported by each team of a unit in the healthcare setting and measures to improve the outcomes must be discussed and implemented in consensus with quality team and nursing team to achieve the goals as a team to improve patient care using the recent evidence based practices. The whole process is usually a matter of interest for the treating team but also for the accreditation agencies to track the progress an organization makes to ensure quality care to a patient which generally goes by the name of ‘Root cause analysis’ by the quality team.

Conclusion

Nursing sensitive quality indicators are a must to be monitored in any healthcare organization as it is a direct measure of nursing care in an organization, also it pushes the healthcare team to perform better in addition plays a crucial role about reflection of best practices in an organization during the accreditation process. Learn more about NABH accreditation Nursing Excellence Standards here:

https://www.nabh.co/NURSINGEXCELLENCE.aspx

References:

1. Heslop L, Lu S. Nursing-sensitive indicators: a concept analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2014 [cited 2019 Feb 28]: 70(11); 2469–2482. doi: 10.1111/jan.12503.

2. The Sentinel Watch. The three types of nursing indicators. 2011 Nov 2 [cited 2019 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.americansentinel.edu/blog/2011/11/02/what-are-nursing-sensitive-quality-indicators-anyway/

3. Almoajel AM. Relationship Between Accreditation and Quality Indicators in Hospital Care: A Review of the Literature. World Applied Sciences Journal. 2012 [cited 2019 Feb 28]: 17 (5); 598-606. Available from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/581c/5fbb1fa8e12ecbf6feb8989ba499b02d0162.pdf

4. Nightingale F. Notes on nursing . Philadelphia: Lippincott; p. 1859.

5. Cuddigan J. Stage 1 Pressure Injury: Non-Blanchable Erythema of Intact Skin. National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. 2017 Mar 3 [cited 2019 Mar 3]. Available from: https://www.npuap.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cuddigan-Janet-Stage-1.pdf

6. Salamon L. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections: a nurse-sensitive indicator in an inpatient rehabilitation program. Rehabil Nurs. 2009 Nov-Dec [ cited 2019 Mar 3] :34(6); 237-41. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19927851

7. Registered nursing.org. Use of Restraints and Safety Devices: NCLEX-RN. Available from: https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/use-restraints-safety-devices/

Why is it important for every nurse practitioner to learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)?

“Nurse saves doctor after he collapses during a run.”

“Nurse saves gym-goer who collapsed after a heart attack.”

“An off-duty nurse was in the right place at the right time Sunday when a man suffered a medical emergency at a gymnastics event.”

The stories are endless and often go unnoticed how nurses save lives every day. But the question is, is it so easy to do so? Ever wondered how will you react if someone collapses in front of you? The quick response of any medical professional is “START CPR”.

But as a health professional how do you know whether the situation really needs you to start CPR or not. As nurses we are often the first responders to any emergency that happens in a hospital setting. As simple it sounds, if you do not know what and how to assess in a victim your brain could throw you off with many questions.

  • Is it really an arrest?
  • Does the victim really need CPR?
  • What if I am not assessing the victim carefully and he is just asleep?
  • What if I don’t perform CPR properly?
  • Should I call a senior /Doctor first?

As scary it might sound, you do have very limited time to manage a collapsed victim and the more time one wastes, less are the chances of a survival. As per The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women. We will address common misconceptions about CPR in this blog post.

Why should you learn CPR?

Nurses are the first responders– In a hospital, nurses need to manage an emergency before the team arrives.

CPR saves lives– Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is a simple life skills that not only save lives but also prevents long term complications such brain damage. According to American Heart Association (AHA), those victims who were treated by emergency medical services (EMS), 10.6% survived. Among the bystander witnessed cases in which individuals had a heart rhythm that could be treated effectively with a defibrillator, 31.4 % survived. The data reflects the importance of quick action taken by bystanders to save a life.

See link: https://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/aha-releases-2015-heart-and-stroke-statistics

CPR-heart and stroke statistics

Source: https://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/aha-releases-2015-heart-and-stroke-statistics

Increases your chances at a job- many job requirements specify nurses to be trained to perform and be certified as ‘CPR provider’. See the links below.

/product/cardio-pulmonary-resuscitation-cpr-adult/

Train others- Often nurses educators need to train others on essential skill of performing CPR. Nurse educators can go for higher certification and be trained as a trainer.

Quality patient care- It is evident that if the nurses are well prepared to deal with the arrest situation in hospital and community, the patient care is bound to be better as they manage the situation effectively. American Heart Association stats that CPR, especially if administered immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. See more here:

https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/AboutCPRECC/CPRFactsAndStats/UCM_475748_CPR-Facts-and-Stats.jsp

When should be CPR performed?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation should be performed when someone is not breathing or when the heart stops beating. In many situations the victim might not be a cardiac patient or have a history of cardiac disease. One should know that there may be other situations as well where a victim might experience cardiac arrest or stop breathing, this include the following conditions.

  • Stroke or tumor
  • Choking
  • Allergic reaction
  • Traumatic injury (head/neck)
  • Electric shocks
  • Drowning

So, CPR must be performed in any situation when a person in not breathing or has no pulse.

What is the difference between CPR and First aid?

First aid refers to the initial action taken by the responders in case of an emergency situation.

So how is CPR different from first aid?

First aid teaches the res-ponders to recognize a variety of emergency situations such as head injuries, neck injuries, burns, traumatic injuries whereas CPR is a ‘step’ while providing first aid in case a victim suffered cardiac arrest, near drowning situations or when the victim is not breathing.

Read more about CPR and First Aid courses here:

Steps of First aid during arrest situation include:

1. Call for help- Call on emergency number.

2. Provide First aid- There can be a number of reasons if the person stops breathing or the heart stops. For example traumatic injury or choking. If the victim has suffered an arrest situation, the rescuer must provide initial first aid such as performing Heimlich maneuver or removing the victim from the danger zone. See the link to know more about Heimlich maneuver here.

Choking Management- Adults

Choking Management- Infant

3. Start CPR- Start CPR as soon as possible as time to avoid complications of injuries to get worsen.

CPR-first aid

Source: http://boostafosterfamily.org/wp-content/

Methods of performing CPR

1. CPR by trained health professionals- It is recommended that trained health professionals should check for pulse and start CPR if no pulse can be felt within 10 seconds starting with chest compression. Start 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.

Learn about CPR for health professionals here:

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-Adult

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-Infant

2. Hands only CPR/CPR without ventilation- If you are not trained in performing CPR or you have not renewed your certification within two years, it is suggested that one must perform hands only CPR that is provide chest compressions only. The rescuer only provides chest compression without giving ventilation to the victim.

What are the steps of CPR?

The steps of CPR were revised and changed from ‘A-B-C’ to ‘C-A-B’. The evidence suggest that chest compressions is the most important step during CPR than opening airway and breathing in adults. Thus, it is recommended that the rescuer must begin performing chest compression and then focus on airway and breathing.

C stands for Chest Compression

A stands for Airway

B stands for Breathing

CPR-C-A-B

Source: https://medictests.com/abc-vs-cab-correct/

CPR using Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

CPR is crucial for the survival of an individual who has suffered an arrest, but often use of AED is equally emphasized. Automated External Defibrillator or AED is a device suggested to be used as soon as it is available. AED are placed in public places and are meant to be used if an arrest situation happens at a public place. AED can identify the abnormal heart rhythm and decides whether shock needs to be given or not. An AED gives instructions from pushing the button to connecting the pads. The purpose of AED is that, even a layman or untrained professional can give shock to the victim saving a life without causing damage. It has been proven that early shock increases the chances of survival of a victim. Learn more about how to use an AED here.

Automated External Defibrillator

Automated external defibrilator

Source: https://i1.wp.com/scrubbing.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/AED.png?resize=556%2C266

CPR with defibrillator

Defibrillator is device that gives shock to the heart when life threatening arrhythmia such as Ventricular tachycardia and Ventricular fibrillation occurs. These are the only two conditions where a defibrillator is used. Health professionals must use a defibrillator as soon as it is available. It is preferred to use a manual defibrillator than AED if both are available.

In case you are unsure of the dose of defibrillator remember the following practical points:

  • Know your defibrillator- Check what type of defibrillator is available in your unit. For example if it says ‘Monophasic’ then the amount of energy requirement is more (360 J). If the defibrillator is ‘Biphasic’, you can start with lower energy (120 J, 150 J).
  • Be consistent- This means if you started at a dose of 150 J give the next shock with same amount of energy.
  • Increase the energy with each shock- You can either choose to give same amount of energy with each shock or you must increase the dosage with each shock (120 J, 150 J and 200 J).

Learn more about using defibrillator on the following links:

CPR without defibrillator

Do you always need a defibrillator when resuscitating a victim? The answer is No.

You don’t always need a defibrillator during an arrest situation. While providing first aid to a person who has collapsed, the most important thing is to start CPR. By providing chest compressions, you are manually trying to pump the blood from the heart to the other organs of the body. This act ensures that the vital organs are still getting oxygen through blood. Defibrillator temporarily stops the heart rhythm and allows the heart to resume back the normal rhythm. There are certain conditions where you do not need a defibrillator during CPR which include Pulse-less electric activity and asystole. In these conditions, the heart has ‘no rhythm’, so giving a shock will not be of any benefit. Only thing that can save life in such conditions is CPR.

If you are using an AED it will instruct you to continue CPR and not give any shock but if you are using a manual defibrillator you need to recognize these conditions on your own.

Steps to be a confident CPR provider

1. Learn the basics- Pay attention to important steps and principles behind them for example C-A-B sequence, chest compression quality and pulse check. Learn more about the basics here: Bodhi Link

2. Know the medications- Nurses are expected to provide IV medication during resuscitation. Read about medications and recommended dosage in various arrest situations. For example epinephrine is the drug of choice irrespective of the heart rhythm during a cardiac arrest.

3. What not to give- Be updated what actions or drugs not to give during resuscitation. For example atropine is no more used during arrest situation. American Heart Association stopped recommending atropine during cardiac arrest since the guidelines released in 2010. Learn more about the changes here: http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_317350.pdf

4. Orient yourself to emergency equipment- Keep yourself updated with the emergency or crash cart to understand the placement of drugs, equipment like ET tube, defibrillator, laryngoscope which are used during resuscitation.

Learn more about what items to expect in a crash cart here:

5. Refresh knowledge and skills- Participate in BLS and ACLS courses after a minimum duration of two years to renew your knowledge and skills of performing CPR.

CPR courses for nursing professionals

Nurses can undergo variety of certificate courses based on their area of placement and professional requirements.

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-Adult in English

CPR-Adult in Hindi

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-Infant in English

CPR-Infant in Hindi

American Heart Association Advance Cardiac Life Support-

https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/Training/HealthcareProfessional/AdvancedCardiovascularLifeSupportACLS/UCM_473186_Advanced-Cardiovascular-Life-Support-ACLS.jsp

American Heart Association Pediatric Life Support-

https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/Training/HealthcareProfessional/Pediatric/UCM_473190_Pediatric.jsp

CPR certification Vs Re-certification

CPR certification lasts for a duration of two years. Researches indicate that there is deterioration of knowledge and skills of performing resuscitation with time. American Heart Association suggests that the health professionals must undergo re-certification to refresh the knowledge and skills of performing CPR every two years. Re-certification might take lesser time compared to the initial certification depending upon the organization you choose to certify yourself with.

You can choose to go for a blended learning and e-learning. See link:

https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/Training/HealthcareProfessional/BasicLifeSupportBLS/UCM_481711_BLS—Instructor-Led-Training.jsp

https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/cpr-training/cpr-renewal

NOTE: Make sure the certification you choose to undergo is recognized by your employer.

Conclusion

In many organizations and units where nurses work, CPR is an essential skill which they must be trained in such as emergency department and critical care units. It is a crucial skill which nurses must learn and encourage others as well to learn, as it not only helps them at the professional front but also empower them to be ready for adverse events that might happen at home and other social settings. See more inspiring stories here and learn more about CPR heroes:

https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/what-is-cpr/everyday-heroes

“Take Action- Learn CPR”

Top