Abstract
Background: Frontline nurses deliver direct patient care and by participating in quality improvement (QI) can have an impact on health care quality and safety. Unfortunately, nurses are not participating in QI, which may be due to a lack of QI knowledge.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate nurses QI knowledge utilizing the revised Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool (QIKAT-R), with newly created nursing scenarios, among frontline nurses and nurse leaders.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study evaluated nurses QI knowledge utilizing the QIKAT-R.
Results: Overall, QI knowledge among nurses was low. The frontline nurses (n = 44) scored higher than nurse leaders (n = 11) on overall QI knowledge scores, although not significant. Frontline nurses scored higher in QI knowledge related to aim and measure, whereas nurse leaders scored higher in change.
Conclusions: Understanding frontline nurses QI knowledge, such as with the QIKAT-R with newly created nursing scenarios, can assist with creating targeted strategies for improving overall engagement in QI.