Describe a quality improvement initiative in your current or recent practice setting. What was the nurse’s role in the project? What was the outcome of the project? Has the improvement been sustained?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Quality Improvement Initiative: Reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)
Introduction
In my recent practice setting at a community hospital, a quality improvement initiative was launched to address the rising incidence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs). This initiative aimed to enhance patient safety and improve overall care quality.
Nurse’s Role in the Project
Nurses played a pivotal role in this quality improvement project. Their responsibilities included:
1. Data Collection and Analysis: Nurses were involved in gathering data on CAUTI rates, identifying patterns, and understanding contributing factors. They utilized electronic health records to track infection rates and patient demographics.
2. Education and Training: Nurses participated in developing educational materials and training sessions for the healthcare team about proper catheter insertion and maintenance protocols. They were instrumental in reinforcing best practices among their peers.
3. Implementation of Protocols: Nurses took the lead in implementing evidence-based protocols aimed at reducing CAUTIs. This included adhering to sterile techniques during catheter insertion, using appropriate catheter types, and ensuring timely removal of catheters.
4. Monitoring and Feedback: After implementation, nurses monitored adherence to the new protocols and provided feedback to the staff. They engaged in regular discussions about outcomes, encouraging open communication about challenges and successes.
Outcomes of the Project
The outcomes of the initiative were significant:
– Reduction in CAUTI Rates: Within six months of implementing the new protocols, CAUTI rates decreased by 40%. This reduction was validated through rigorous data analysis comparing pre- and post-implementation rates.
– Increased Staff Compliance: Compliance with catheter care protocols improved from 60% to 85%, indicating that nurses effectively communicated and enforced best practices.
– Enhanced Patient Education: Patients reported feeling more educated about their catheter care, leading to increased satisfaction with their hospital experience.
Sustaining Improvement
To ensure that the improvements were sustainable:
– Ongoing Education: The nursing staff developed a continuous education program to reinforce best practices related to catheter care during staff meetings and during orientation for new nurses.
– Regular Audits: The hospital initiated regular audits of CAUTI rates and compliance with protocols, ensuring that any deviations were addressed promptly.
– Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The project fostered an interdisciplinary approach, involving not just nurses but also physicians and infection control specialists in discussions about patient care.
Conclusion
The quality improvement initiative to reduce CAUTIs exemplifies how nurses can lead impactful changes in healthcare settings. Their multifaceted role—from data analysis to education—was crucial in achieving a significant reduction in infection rates. The sustained efforts through ongoing education and monitoring have ensured that these improvements continue to benefit patients long-term. This initiative reinforces the vital role of nursing in enhancing patient safety and quality of care.
