Assess the effect of the patient, family, or population problem you defined in the previous assessment on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual. Plan to spend at least 2 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice.
Report on your experiences during your first 2 practicum hours, including how you presented your ideas about the health problem to the patient, family, or group.
• Whom did you meet with?
o What did you learn from them?
• Comment on the evidence-based practice (EBP) documents or websites you reviewed.
o What did you learn from that review?
• Share the process and experience of exploring the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the problem.
o What barriers, if any, did you encounter when presenting the problem to the patient, family, or group?
Did the patient, family, or group agree with you about the presence of the problem and its significance and relevance?
What leadership, communication, collaboration, or change management skills did you employ during your interactions to overcome these barriers or change the patient’s, family’s, or group’s thinking about the problem (for example, creating a sense of urgency based on data or policy requirements)?
o What changes, if any, did you make to your definition of the problem, based on your discussions?
o What might you have done differently?
Full Answer Section
reviewed a number of EBP documents and websites on patient safety and quality improvement. I learned that there is a strong evidence base for the interventions that can be used to improve patient safety and quality of care.
Share the process and experience of exploring the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the problem.
I explored the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the problem by talking to the patient, their family, their care team, and the subject matter experts. I learned that all of these factors play a role in patient safety and quality of care.
What barriers, if any, did I encounter when presenting the problem to the patient, family, or group?
I encountered a few barriers when presenting the problem to the patient, family, and group. One barrier was that they were not familiar with the concept of patient safety and quality improvement. Another barrier was that they were not sure how to fix the problems that they were experiencing.
Did the patient, family, or group agree with you about the presence of the problem and its significance and relevance?
The patient, family, and group did agree with me about the presence of the problems that they were experiencing. They also agreed that these problems were significant and relevant.
What leadership, communication, collaboration, or change management skills did you employ during your interactions to overcome these barriers or change the patient’s, family’s, or group’s thinking about the problem (for example, creating a sense of urgency based on data or policy requirements)?
I employed a number of leadership, communication, collaboration, and change management skills during my interactions with the patient, family, and group. I used active listening skills to understand their perspective and concerns. I also used empathy to build rapport and trust. I used clear and concise language to explain the concept of patient safety and quality improvement. I also used data and policy requirements to create a sense of urgency.
What changes, if any, did you make to your definition of the problem, based on your discussions?
Based on my discussions with the patient, family, and group, I made a few changes to my definition of the problem. I added more detail about the specific problems that they were experiencing. I also added more detail about the impact of these problems on the patient's safety and quality of care.
What might you have done differently?
I might have done a few things differently. I might have started by asking the patient, family, and group about their experiences with their care. I might have also spent more time explaining the concept of patient safety and quality improvement. I might have also invited them to participate in developing solutions to the problems that they were experiencing.
Overall, I learned a lot during my first 2 practicum hours. I learned about the importance of patient safety and quality improvement. I also learned about the role of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy in addressing these problems. I am excited to continue learning and working to improve patient safety and quality of care.
Sample Answer
Whom did I meet with?
I met with the patient, their family, and their care team. I also met with subject matter experts in the field of patient safety and quality improvement.
What did I learn from them?
I learned that the patient had been experiencing a number of problems with their care, including medication errors, communication breakdowns, and delays in receiving care. The family was also concerned about the patient's safety and quality of care.
The subject matter experts told me that these problems are common in healthcare and that there are a number of things that can be done to improve patient safety and quality of care. They also told me about the importance of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy in addressing these problems.