Performance Improvement and Quality Flashcards
7 cards from real ANM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Performance Improvement and Quality flashcards as text
A unit's HAI rate is at the 90th percentile nationally. An ANM wants to benchmark against top performers. Which data source is MOST appropriate for US hospital benchmarking?
Answer: NHSN (National Healthcare Safety Network)
NHSN is the CDC's national surveillance system specifically designed for tracking healthcare-associated infections with standardized national benchmarks.
When using a control chart, a process is considered 'out of control' when:
Answer: One data point falls outside three standard deviations from the mean
A control chart signals an out-of-control process when one or more points fall outside the three-sigma upper or lower control limits.
The Donabedian model evaluates quality using which three dimensions?
Answer: Structure, process, outcome
Avedis Donabedian's model assesses healthcare quality through structure (resources), process (care delivery), and outcomes (results).
A nurse manager is reviewing near-miss reports. What is the PRIMARY purpose of tracking near-miss events?
Answer: To identify system vulnerabilities before harm occurs
Tracking near-misses reveals latent system flaws and allows organizations to implement safeguards before actual patient harm occurs.
Which accreditation body's Conditions of Participation directly tie hospital reimbursement to quality standards in the US?
Answer: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS Conditions of Participation are federal requirements that hospitals must meet to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
During a quality improvement project, an ANM wants to prioritize which problems to tackle first. The MOST appropriate tool is:
Answer: Pareto chart
A Pareto chart identifies the 20% of causes responsible for 80% of problems, allowing teams to prioritize the highest-impact issues first.
High reliability organizations (HROs) use 'preoccupation with failure' as a core principle. This means:
Answer: Continuously seeking small signals of potential failure even when systems appear safe
Preoccupation with failure means HROs remain vigilant for subtle warning signs and near-misses even during periods of apparent success.