IDENTIFYING PRACTICE GAPS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

What should be happening in practice? What is happening or observed in practice?
These two questions help to identify where quality improvement practice gaps might exist in nursing practice. If we know what should be happening does not
coincide with what is happening, we know there is an issue, or more appropriately, a practice gap.
A practice gap is the difference between a desirable or achievable state of practice and current reality. For example, a common gap in practice in healthcare
organizations today, are healthcare associated infections (HAIs), such as central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs), or catheter associated
urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
The ongoing identification of practice gaps is critical to quality improvement and involves identifying the current state, comparing that current state to the
desired state, identifying the causes of the gaps in practice, and validating those gaps to develop a process for improvement.
For this Discussion, reflect on quality improvement practice gaps that may exist in your practice or organization. Consider what quality improvement…