title: Improving patient outcomes in a dialysis unit: an integrated approach to CQI.
abstract: Continuous quality improvement (CQI), staff education, and patient education are essential, interrelated components of nursing practice that share the common goal of improved patient outcomes. The nurses of the Nashville Veterans' Administration Medical Center dialysis unit effectively combined these activities to improve the iron balance, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels of chronic hemodialysis patients on erythropoietin. The integration of these components increased the effectiveness of each one, thereby enhancing the improvement of patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Dialysis Unit, Veterans' Administration Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heard
mesh_terms: D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006400:Hematocrit; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013714:Tennessee; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron