NR504 Advanced Nursing Leadership and Systems Management: Quality Improvement Initiative Assessment (Chamberlain University College of Nursing)

Effective leadership in nursing practice requires the integration of evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes, safety, and care quality. Applying system-level thinking and data-driven decision-making helps nurses implement sustainable quality improvement (QI) initiatives that align with healthcare organizational goals. In this assessment, you will design and evaluate a quality improvement initiative within your clinical or community health setting, focusing on measurable outcomes and interprofessional collaboration.

Assessment 2: Quality Improvement Initiative Proposal

Due: Week 6 | Length: 1,200–1,500 words | Weight: 30%

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to enable you to develop, analyze, and communicate a feasible quality improvement initiative aimed at addressing a critical issue in patient safety, care delivery, or system efficiency. Quality improvement projects are foundational in advanced nursing practice and demonstrate leadership competence in managing change within complex healthcare systems. Drawing from recent evidence, your proposal should reflect sound clinical judgment and strategic leadership principles relevant to the nursing profession in 2026 and beyond.

Instructions

In a 1,200–1,500-word paper, address the following components using APA 7th edition format:

1. Introduction (Approx. 150–200 words):
   Introduce your quality improvement (QI) topic and explain its relevance to your clinical or organizational context. Identify the current problem or performance gap supported by data or literature. Briefly outline the purpose and objectives of your proposed QI initiative.
2. Background and Rationale (Approx. 250–300 words):
   Summarize recent scholarly evidence (2018–2026) highlighting the prevalence, risks, and implications of the identified issue. Explain why this issue requires immediate attention from a leadership and systems management perspective. Include relevant organizational policies or national standards (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, or WHO guidelines).
3. Proposed Quality Improvement Initiative (Approx. 400–500 words):
   Describe your proposed intervention or strategy to address the problem. Discuss how the initiative aligns with evidence-based practice and nursing leadership models such as transformational, servant, or systems leadership. Include steps for implementation, responsible parties, timeline, and resource allocation. Integrate current digital health innovations or data analytics tools relevant to your plan.
4. Evaluation and Outcome Measurement (Approx. 250–300 words):
   Identify at least three measurable outcomes and discuss the evaluation methods that will be used to determine effectiveness. Explain how data will be collected, analyzed, and reported. Provide examples of key performance indicators (KPIs) or benchmarks to track progress.
5. Implications for Nursing Leadership (Approx. 150–200 words):
   Discuss how your initiative contributes to leadership development, patient safety, and organizational excellence. Reflect on how this project enhances your role as an advanced practice nurse in leading interprofessional teams and driving sustainable change.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

• Use APA 7th edition formatting (Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins).
• Include a minimum of five peer-reviewed scholarly sources (2018–2026).
• Submit your paper through the designated learning management system (LMS) submission link by 11:59 PM CST on Sunday of Week 6.

Assessment Criteria (Marking Rubric)

Criteria	Exemplary (90–100%)	Proficient (80–89%)	Developing (70–79%)	Emerging (Below 70%)
Identification of Problem and Rationale	Clearly defines a relevant QI issue supported by robust evidence and data.	Identifies a clear issue with adequate evidence.	Provides limited or generalized rationale.	Fails to define or justify a clear issue.
Application of Evidence and Leadership Concepts	Integrates high-quality research and leadership theory comprehensively.	Applies evidence and theory with minor gaps.	Limited use of evidence; theory applied superficially.	No clear application of evidence or leadership framework.
Proposal Development and Feasibility	Intervention is innovative, realistic, and well-structured.	Intervention is feasible and mostly structured.	Intervention lacks clarity or realism.	Unclear or impractical intervention.
Outcome Evaluation	Demonstrates measurable, outcome-focused evaluation strategies.	Identifies measurable outcomes with minor limitations.	Limited measurable outcomes.	Evaluation approach is missing or unclear.
Organization and Writing	Logical, coherent, and professional writing with flawless APA adherence.	Mostly organized and well-written with few errors.	Some disorganization or APA errors.	Disorganized with multiple formatting or grammar issues.

Sample Answer Excerpt (for Search Ranking Optimization)

The proposed quality improvement initiative focuses on reducing medication administration errors in acute care settings through barcode scanning and electronic medication record verification. The intervention integrates transformational leadership principles to empower nursing staff and promote accountability. Implementation will follow a four-phase model emphasizing staff training, system integration, outcome measurement, and continuous improvement. Measurable indicators include reduced medication error rates, enhanced patient satisfaction, and improved workflow efficiency, all supported by evidence-based best practices from 2023–2026 studies in nursing informatics and safety leadership.

References

• Alotaibi, Y.K., & Federico, F. (2018). The impact of health information technology on patient safety. Saudi Medical Journal, 39(12), 1186–1193. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2018.12.23348
• Sharon, M., & Lindo, J.L. (2020). Transformational leadership and quality improvement in nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(3), 456–462. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12942
• Haase, K.R., et al. (2022). Evaluating the impact of digital tools on medication safety in nursing care. BMC Nursing, 21(1), 198. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01044-2
• Walton, M., Woodward, H., & Van Staalduinen, S. (2023). Leadership, learning, and system improvement: Nursing roles in patient safety. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 35(5), mzad051. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzad051
• Simonsen, B.O., et al. (2024). Nurse-led strategies for enhancing medication administration accuracy. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(1–2), 122–134. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16519