NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 Care Setting Environmental Analysis

Care Setting Environment Analysis 

As a nurse leader at Grace Hospital located in Michigan, I must comprehensively understand the healthcare environment and develop strategies to sustain competitive advantage while ensuring ongoing improvement in quality and safety outcomes. This requires the use of analysis techniques such as Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis to recognize areas of enhancement and develop a strategic plan (Ghosh et al., 2022). This paper examines the healthcare environment at Grace Hospital and determines whether we are bringing positive change to the patients’ community.

Part 1: Appreciative Inquiry Discovery and Dream

Evidence Related to the Best Performance 

The care setting at Grace Hospital has demonstrated exceptional performance in achieving quality and safety goals on several occasions. One notable instance is implementing a comprehensive program to reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs). Through rigorous devotion to evidence-based practices, such as enhanced hand cleanness protocols and fostering a culture of safety with a focus on infection prevention, the hospital achieved a 40% reduction in HAIs over a year. This success improved patient outcomes and reinforced the hospital’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care (Braun et al., 2020).

Another significant example of the hospital’s excellence is the adoption of a patient-centered care model. This model emphasizes custom-made personal care to light each patient’s requirements and likings. As a result, patient satisfaction scores substantially increased by 30%, and there was a notable 20% decrease in readmission rates within six months of implementation. This approach improved the patient experience and led to better clinical outcomes, showcasing the Grace Hospital’s dedication to delivering high-quality, safe care (Kwame & Petrucka, 2021).

NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 Care Setting Environmental Analysis

The positive themes reflected in these stories include a strong emphasis on evidence-based practices, a commitment to creating a culture of safety, and a focus on individualized patient care. Additional evidence validating Grace Hospital’s positive core includes numerous awards and accreditations. For example, the hospital achieved the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation, which recognizes excellence in patient care and safety standards (TJC, 2024). Despite the success of these programs, there are still knowledge gaps and areas of uncertainty that need further exploration. For instance, there is a need to understand how to sustain the gains made in reducing HAIs and how to scale the patient-centered care model to other hospital areas. Moreover, there is a need to identify the best approaches to addressing the social determinants of health that can impact patient outcomes and experiences at Grace Hospital (Kwame & Petrucka, 2021).

 Goals for the Care Setting

Following are the proposed improvement goals for quality and care at Grace Hospital.

1. Implementing communication skills training programs for healthcare providers will increase the frequency and effectiveness of communication between them and patients (Drossman et al., 2021).
2. Implement a comprehensive infection prevention and control program that leverages data analytics to identify patterns and emerging threats to patient safety (Jackson et al., 2020).
3. Enhance cultural competence by providing ongoing training and development for healthcare providers so that they can better comprehend and cater to the distinct needs and preferences of diverse patient populations (Majda et al., 2021).

Improvements in Quality and Safety

Safety goals are very productive in nature, and their fulfillment can lead an organization toward improving safety and quality; it helps keep employees’ requirements in mind. Communication skills training will enable healthcare providers to establish trust and rapport with patients, improve patient understanding of their care, and promote shared decision-making (Drossman et al., 2021). Enhancing cultural competence will ensure that patients receive care at Grace Hospital aligned with their cultural beliefs and ethical values, which is critical to ensuring that care is delivered promoting autonomy and respect (Majda et al., 2021).

Alignment with Care Setting’s Mission, Vision, and Values

The suggested objectives are in harmony with Grace Hospital’s mission, vision, and principles of offering top-notch, patient-focused healthcare that is considerate, empathetic, and culturally aware. The goals are based on the assumption that communication skills training and infection prevention and control programs can improve patient safety and outcomes and that enhancing cultural competence is critical to promoting equity in care (Drossman et al., 2021). By achieving these goals, Grace Hospital will be better positioned to achieve its mission, vision, and values and provide care that is aligned with the needs and preferences of its diverse patient population. Assumptions for the improvement goals include the belief that targeted training can significantly enhance the quality of patient-provider interactions.

Part 2: SWOT Analysis

Grace Hospital’s SWOT analysis thoroughly examines the hospital’s internal assets and liabilities, as well as its external prospects and challenges. This analysis is essential for developing strategic plans that align with the hospital’s mission, vision, and values, ensuring high-quality and compassionate care delivery to all patients.

Strengths

Grace Hospital boasts highly skilled and experienced healthcare providers committed to excellence in patient care. The hospital has cultivated a strong safety and quality improvement culture supported by a robust Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Additionally, access to state-of-the-art medical technology and equipment enables the hospital to deliver cutting-edge treatments and services (Holmgren et al., 2021).

Weaknesses

Despite its strengths, the hospital faces significant challenges. Inadequate staffing levels lead to high workloads and burnout among staff, which can compromise patient care. Inconsistent communication and collaboration between healthcare providers also affect care coordination. Furthermore, insufficient patient education and engagement hinder effective healthcare delivery, and limited infection prevention and control resources pose ongoing risks (Dereziuk et al., 2023).

Opportunities

Several opportunities exist to enhance the Grace Hospital’s services and outcomes. Expanding patient education and engagement programs can empower patients and improve health outcomes. Integrating data analytics into quality improvement initiatives offers the potential for more informed decision-making. Collaborating with community organizations to address social determinants of health can enhance community well-being, and implementing evidence-based infection prevention strategies can reduce infection rates (Holmgren et al., 2021).

Threats

The hospital must navigate several external threats. Increasing regulatory requirements and compliance burdens can strain resources. Competition from other healthcare providers in the region challenges maintaining patient volume. Changes in reimbursement policies and payment models could impact financial stability, and the emergence of new infectious diseases and antibiotic-resistant organisms represents a constant threat to patient safety (Dereziuk et al., 2023).

Relationships to Quality and Safety Goals

The SWOT analysis identified several areas where Grace Hospital could improve its quality and safety outcomes. The hospital’s strengths, such as its skilled healthcare providers and strong safety culture, can be leveraged to address weaknesses, such as inadequate staffing and inconsistent communication. Opportunities, such as expanding patient education and engagement programs and implementing evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies, can help address threats, such as increasing regulatory requirements and competition from other healthcare providers (Majda et al., 2021). Despite Grace Hospital’s robust safety culture and skilled healthcare providers, some conflicting data exist. Like the hospital struggles with inadequate staffing levels and inconsistent communication, which undermine patient care quality and coordination (Dereziuk et al., 2023).

The Area of Concern Identified in a SWOT Analysis

One issue identified in the SWOT analysis for Grace Hospital is the insufficient staffing levels, resulting in heavy workloads and burnout among healthcare professionals. This concern is vitally important to the hospital’s mission, vision, and values, which emphasize delivering high-quality and compassionate care to all patients (Ashipala & Nghole, 2022). The hospital’s mission to deliver exceptional patient care is risked when staff are overburdened, potentially compromising patient safety and care quality. The vision of fostering a supportive and efficient healthcare environment is similarly threatened by staffing shortages, leading to increased errors, lower patient satisfaction, and diminished employee morale (Grace Hospital, 2024).

To address this concern, improvements should focus on optimizing staffing levels and enhancing staff well-being. Evaluating these improvements can involve several criteria: staffing ratios, staff satisfaction, patient satisfaction, and quality of care metrics. These can be assessed through quantitative and qualitative data, such as staffing ratio statistics, staff and patient experience surveys, and monitoring changes in quality care indicators over time. Improving this area must align with the hospital’s core values and ensure a sustainable, high-quality care environment (Ashipala & Nghole, 2022).

Part 3: Comparison of Approaches

Comparing AI and SWOT is differentiated based on data collection and interaction with others. AI emphasizes positive experiences and interactions and seeks to uncover strengths and successes through interviews, focus groups, and other forms of qualitative data gathering. This approach requires a high level of stakeholder engagement and participation and is focused on building relationships and fostering a positive organizational culture (Merriel et al., 2022). In contrast, SWOT analysis is a more quantitative approach that focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats through surveys, metrics, and other objective data sources (Puyt et al., 2023).

Another critical difference between AI and SWOT analysis is how they interact with others. AI emphasizes collaboration and dialogue and seeks to create a shared vision and a sense of purpose among stakeholders. This approach can be beneficial for building buy-in and support for change initiatives (Merriel et al., 2022). On the other hand, SWOT analysis focuses more on individual perspectives and opinions and may need to be more effective at building consensus and shared vision (Puyt et al., 2023).

It is essential to recognize that both AI and SWOT approaches have their assumptions and biases. According to Dangga et al. (2022), AI assumes that positive experiences and interactions are more valuable than negative ones, while SWOT assumes objective data sources are more accurate than subjective opinions. It is important to be aware of these assumptions and biases when selecting an approach to analysis and to consider how they may impact the results of the analysis. Acknowledging and addressing these assumptions and biases can ensure that our analysis is more accurate, effective, and meaningful.

Part 4: Analysis of Relevant Leadership Characteristics and Skills

AI and SWOT methodologies underscore numerous favorable leadership attributes and competencies. In an AI framework, the leader ought to demonstrate the capability to promote constructive dialogue and cultivate an atmosphere where team members are at ease exchanging their accomplishments and concepts. They should have vital emotional intelligence and be able to identify and celebrate the team members’ strengths. The AI approach also requires a leader who can effectively facilitate group discussions and guide the team toward their desired goals (Merriel et al., 2022). In contrast, the SWOT approach requires a leader capable of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the team members and the organization. They should be able to identify areas where improvement is needed and develop a plan to address them (Puyt et al., 2023).

Analyzing the leadership characteristics and skills most desired for AI and SWOT approaches, I identified several shared attributes crucial for success. Firstly, strong communication skills are essential. Whether facilitating positive discussions in AI or conveying strategic plans in SWOT, a leader must effectively articulate ideas and listen to team members (Holmgren et al., 2021). However, uncertainty and knowledge gaps exist when identifying the most desirable leadership characteristics and skills for performance improvement projects. For example, it needs to be clarified how much weight should be given to leadership traits versus experience and qualifications. Future research and analysis are needed to understand the most effective leadership approach for performance improvement projects in healthcare settings (Puyt et al., 2023).

Conclusion

A comprehensive grasp of a care setting’s advantages, limitations, prospects, and challenges is essential for devising successful performance improvement strategies. Combining AI and SWOT approaches offers a comprehensive view, identifying areas for improvement while leveraging existing strengths. Ethical and culturally sensitive leadership is vital for successfully implementing these improvements.

References

Ashipala, D. O., & Nghole, T. M. (2022). Factors contributing to burnout among nurses at a district hospital in Namibia: A qualitative perspective of nurses. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13693 

Braun, B. I., Chitavi, S. O., Suzuki, H., Soyemi, C. A., & Puig-Asensio, M. (2020). Culture of safety: Impact on improvement in infection prevention process and outcomes. Current Infectious Disease Reports, 22(12). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-020-00741-y 

Dangga, L., Isu, R. J., Atto, A., Dami, Z. A., & Kartini, D. (2022). Using the appreciative inquiry model to develop the quality of educational organizations in Indonesia: SWOT analysis strategy. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 5(12), 652–665. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v5i12.835 

NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 Care Setting Environmental Analysis

Dereziuk, A. V., Yaremyna, I. V., Pushkar, S. E., & Baidiuk, I. A. (2023). Efficiency improvement of health care institutions activities using SWOT-analysis. Reports of Vinnytsia National Medical University, 27(1), 160–165. https://doi.org/10.31393/reports-vnmedical-2023-27(1)-28 

Drossman, D. A., Chang, L., Deutsch, J. K., Ford, A. C., Halpert, A., Kroenke, K., Nurko, S., Ruddy, J., Snyder, J., & Sperber, A. (2021). A review of the evidence and recommendations on communication skills and the patient–provider relationship: A Rome foundation working team report. Gastroenterology, 161(5), 1670–1688. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2021.07.037 

Ghosh, S., Struminger, B. B., Singla, N., Roth, B. M., Kumar, A., Anand, S., Mtete, E., Lusekelo, J., Massawe, I., Jarpe-Ratner, E., Seweryn, S. M., Risley, K., Moonan, P. K., & Pinsker, E. (2022). Appreciative inquiry and the co-creation of an evaluation framework for extension for community healthcare outcomes (ECHO) implementation: A two-country experience. Evaluation and Program Planning, 92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102067 

Grace Hospital. (2024). Grace Hospital – Acute Long-Term Care Hospital – Home. Gracehospital.org. https://gracehospital.org/ 

NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 Care Setting Environmental Analysis

Holmgren, A. J., Phelan, J., Jha, A. K., & Milstein, J. (2021). Hospital organizational strategies associated with advanced EHR adoption. Health Services Research, 57(2), 259–269. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13655 

Jackson, T., King, J. J. C., Makungu, C., Spieker, N., Woodd, S., Risha, P., & Goodman, C. (2020). Infection prevention and control compliance in Tanzanian outpatient facilities: A cross-sectional study with implications for the control of COVID-19. The Lancet Global Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30222-9 

Kwame, A., & Petrucka, P. M. (2021). A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: Barriers, facilitators, and the way forward. BioMed Central Nursing, 20(158), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00684-2 

Majda, A., Puchała, J., Cupak, I., Kurowska, A., & Barzykowski, K. (2021). Evaluating the effectiveness of cultural education training: Cultural competence and cultural intelligence development among nursing students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084002 

Merriel, A., Wilson, A., Decker, E., Hussein, J., Larkin, M., Barnard, K., O’Dair, M., Costello, A., Malata, A., & Coomarasamy, A. (2022). Systematic review and narrative synthesis of the impact of Appreciative Inquiry in healthcare. British Medical Journal Open Quality, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2022-001911 

Puyt, R. W., Lie, F. B., & Wilderom, C. P. M. (2023). The origins of SWOT analysis. Long Range Planning, 56(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2023.102304 

TJC. (2024). The gold seal of approval and guidelines for use for accreditation. Www.jointcommission.org. https://www.jointcommission.org/what-we-offer/accreditation/accredited/publicity-kit/the-gold-seal-of-approval-and-guidelines-for-use/