Austin Reilly

BSN/QSEN Competencies

Patient-Centered Care- .

I believe that patient-centered care falls within the broad spectrum of healthcare. Having
a patient-centered mindset should be at the forefront of why we want to become nurses. The
patient in my view can be anyone from pedestrians on the street, to patients within a hospital, to
outpatient, to our members of the community as shown by our community health nurses. Each
day that I wake up I am consumed by the approach that everything must be done with a patient-
centered approach. Along with that, the patient’s preferences, values, and needs are unique and
must be met with non-bias views. Health and healing should be a universal right to all people
regardless of who they are. This also embodies the idea that it is not just inside of the work place
but as a nurse this is the lifestyle and environment that we represent at all places we go to.

Quality Improvement-

Each day, month, and year it seems as if there is new evidence to improve patient health
outcome. For example, sepsis protocol updates each year and we can see that each time it is
updates we see better survival rates. It is the responsibility of the nurse to stay up to date and
advocate for new research to be implemented in the work place. I also believe it is important for
the nurse to find a specific field they are passionate about and stay up to date on it. For example,
sepsis intrigues me the most and I am dedicated to the newest research on sepsis control and
what the research states for catching sepsis early before it progresses to septic shock.

Safety- Definition:

Safety can be considered one of the most important aspects of patient care. It takes the
form of every single thing we do and plan for our patients. An example of safety that we as
nurses do is the six nursing rights that include: right patient, right medication, right use, right
dose, right time, and right route. Although those are more critical safety measures, it also
includes things such as using a safety belt while ambulating a patient or assisting them to the
restroom. Safety should be at the forefront of our mind with every step we take. It is not only a
moral responsibility but it is the obligation of holding a nursing license.

Teamwork and Collaboration- Definition:

A patient one told me, “it takes a team to make a dream”. This quote was engrained into
my head after seeing the 1 month progress he made coming off of a ventilator and being
discharged home to his wife and family. The nurse bares the responsibility of being the
connection to all other healthcare staff. We serve as an advocator as well as someone who thinks
critically to include and delegate signs, symptoms, and all tasks to the other respected healthcare
professional. The team includes everyone from the physical therapist to the nursing aid to
pharmacy to speech therapy to case management and to the social worker and so on. The
healthcare team as a whole is a powerful unit that can’t be replicated individually. An example of
this that I have been working on is to effectively communicate rounds each day with the
healthcare team. Rounds is a critical portion of teamwork that takes place usually only once a
day and is the nurses chance to gather the input and collaboration while everyone is physically
together and brainstorming together.

Informatics- Definition:

Informatics is often an overlooked portion of nursing that is important for all members of
the healthcare team. Having proper informatic skills includes communicating with technology
and improving time and speed for patient centered care. For example some hospitals allow
vocera texting to physicians to get orders and communicate patient information fast and
effectively.

Evidence-based Practice- Definition:

This goes hand in hand with quality improvement. It is the nurses responsibility to use
evidenced-based practice while providing care to patients. This includes everything from hand
washing to proper PPE usage and protocols like sepsis control. Good hospitals will keep nurses
up to date on evidenced based practice and have teams delegated to staying up to date with
evidenced based knowledge. Unfortunately many hospitals lack the resources or staff to
effectively teach the most up to date research for patient care and safety. This is why it is the
responsibility of the nurse to actively complete CEUs and stay up to date with research.