APPLYING PROJECT MANAGEMENT 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 objectives to define and set the objectives for the

project.

Each letter of the acronym SMART defines a different criterion for the objective.

A SMART objective is specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, and timely.

These objectives help to steer the work and direct the stakeholders to the

completion of the project.

For this Assignment, you will reflect on project management approaches that could

be used to address a quality improvement practice gap. You will develop SMART

objectives 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:

 

 Review the Learning Resources for this week, and consider the

approaches of project management.

 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 objectives for the planning

and execution of a project to address the quality improvement practice

gap you identified.

 Utilize the Walden University writing center setting SMART goals

academic guide to develop your goals. This resource includes the

SMART goal criteria, example goals, and a template for you to develop

your own academic, professional, and personal SMART

 

goals. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/academic-skills-

center/success-strategies/mindset-wellness/smart-goalsLinks to an

external site.

 Consider any other project management approaches or activities you

might recommend using for your project that will address the quality

improvement practice gap you identified.

THE ASSIGNMENT: (2 PAGES)

 

 Briefly describe the quality improvement practice gap you identified in

your nursing practice or organization. Be specific.

 Develop at least two SMART objectives you might apply in the project

planning phase or execution phase to address the quality improvement

practice gap you identified.

 Recommend at least two project management activities you would use

for your project, addressing the quality improvement practice gap you

identified. Explain your justification for why these activities would

provide the best support. Be specific and provide examples.

 

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a

title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at

the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements

(available

at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-

20293632) Links to an external site.. All papers submitted must use this

formatting.

 

Resources

 

LEARNING RESOURCES

Required Readings

 Sipes, C. (2020). Project management for the advanced practice

nurse (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.

 

Chapter 3, “Design/Implementation: Project Management—Phase 1” (pp.

49–74)

o Chapter 4, “Planning: Project Management—Phase 2” (pp.

75–120)

o Chapter 5, “Implementation/Execution—Phase 3” (pp.

121–146)

 

 Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). Project planning form Links

to an external site.. http://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 harm Links to an external site.[Multimedia

file]. http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/RCA2-Improving-Root-

Cause-Analyses-and-Actions-to-Prevent-Harm.aspx