title: Improving patient care through student leadership in team quality improvement projects.
abstract: In partnership with a major medical center, senior-level nursing students completed a root cause analysis and implementation plan to address a unit-specific quality issue. To evaluate the project, unit leaders were asked their perceptions of the value of the projects and impact on patient care, as well as to provide exemplars depicting how the student root cause analysis work resulted in improved patient outcome and/or unit processes. Liaisons noted benefits of having an RCA team, with positive impact on patient outcomes and care processes.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan School of Nursing (Drs Tschannen, Aebersold, and Potempa), Ann Arbor; and University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor (Mss Kocan and Lundy).
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tschannen
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aebersold
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kocan
authors.forename: Francene
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lundy
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Potempa
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008824:Michigan; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D005791:Patient Care; D058996:Quality Improvement; D060891:Root Cause Analysis; D013338:Students, Nursing