Applying Project Improvement Approaches for a Quality Improvement Practice Gap
Instruction Discussion
Applying Project Improvement Approaches for a Quality Improvement Practice Gap
Project management allows for a clear and focused workflow to approach an issue or task. These approaches streamline a process, allow for checks and balances, and ensure all stakeholders are active participants in the process. Project management approaches often utilize SMART goals to define and set the objectives for the project.
Each letter of the acronym SMART defines a different criterion for the objective. A SMART goal is specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, and timely. These goals help to steer the work and direct the stakeholders to the completion of the project.
For this Discussion, you will reflect on project management approaches that could be used to address a quality improvement practice gap. You will develop at least one SMART goal for the planning and execution of a quality improvement project and will consider potential project management approaches or activities that could be used in executing this project.
To prepare:
• Refer to the Week 3 Discussion and reflect on the quality improvement practice gap you identified.
• Consider how you might apply the project management approaches examined this week to address the quality improvement practice gap you identified.
• Think about how you might develop SMART goal for the planning and execution of a project to address the quality improvement practice gap you identified.
• Consider any other project management approaches, tools, or activities you might recommend using for your project that will address the quality improvement practice gap you identified.
Post a scholarly response to the following criteria:
• Describe the role and responsibilities of the project manager in a quality improvement project.
• Reintroduce the quality improvement practice gap identified in Week 3 or introduce a new practice gap.
o Include the baseline metrics or objective data to support this as a practice gap.
• Through the lens of a project manager, develop one measurable objective to close the identified quality improvement gap.
o Must be in SMART goal format:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Timebound
• Recommend at least one new or different project management approach or tool the project manager might use for this quality improvement project.
o Explain why this project management tool or approach is appropriate for this project.
o Describe the strengths and limitations of this project management activity.
By D Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
Required Readings
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2024). The essentialsLinks to an external site.. AACN. https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials
• Dang, D., Dearholt, S. L., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2021). Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model and guidelines (4th ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International.
o Chapter 8, “Translation” (pp. 189–203)
• Sipes, C. (2025). Project management for the advanced practice nurse (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
o Chapter 1, “Basic Project Management for Advanced Practice Nurses and Healthcare Professionals” (pp. 3–21)
o Chapter 2, “Advanced Practice Nurse Role Descriptions and Application of Project Management Concepts” (pp. 23–54)
o Chapter 3, “Design/Initiation: Project Management—Phase 1” (pp. 57–84)
• Walden University, LLC. (n.d.). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) practicum manualLinks to an external site.. Walden University. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/dnp-practicum-manual
Meditrek
• Document: DNP Practicum Activities Guideline 2024 (PDF)Download DNP Practicum Activities Guideline 2024 (PDF)
• Document: Example DNP Project and Practicum Objectives (PDF)Download Example DNP Project and Practicum Objectives (PDF)
Didactic Required Resources
Required Readings
• Sipes, C. (2020). Project management for the advanced practice nurse (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
o Chapter 4, “Planning Project Management—Phase 2” (pp. 75–120)
o Chapter 5, “Implementation/Execution—Phase 3” (pp. 121–146)
Utilize the Walden University writing center setting SMART goals academic guideLinks to an external site. to develop your goals.
• Zellefrow, C., Spalla-King, T. (2024) Development of the PICOT Decision Tree: A tool to Support Student LearningLinks to an external site.. Journal of Nursing Education. 63(4).
• Document: Tools and Methods for Quality Improvement Paper Template (Word document)Download Tools and Methods for Quality Improvement Paper Template (Word document)
Required Media
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). Quality improvement essentials toolkitLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/Quality-Improvement-Essentials-Toolkit.aspx
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). RCA2: Improving root cause analyses and actions to prevent harmLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/RCA2-Improving-Root-Cause-Analyses-and-Actions-to-Prevent-Harm.aspx Links to an external site.
Optional Resources
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, November 21). Writing smart objectivesLinks to an external site.. Evaluation Briefs. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/brief3b.pdf
• Mind Tools Content Team. (n.d.). SMART goalsLinks to an external site. [Multimedia]. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm
• Minnesota Department of Health. (2023, March 3). Objectives and goals: Writing meaningful goals and SMART objectivesLinks to an external site.. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/practice/resources/phqitoolbox/objectives.html
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