Teaching Strategies

This appendix is provided to offer users of this book to integrate various tools to support learners in engaging in the material and applying findings to real world situations.  It is assumed that most of the students using this book are employed in healthcare; therefore most of the activities apply to healthcare system enhancement opportunities.

Applied Learning Activities

Most chapters include Applied Learning Activities.  These activities are intended for students to apply to real world situations experienced by practicing nurses in a complex health system.  

• Suggested teaching strategy: Have students complete the activity and to students to complete  submit a screen shot or image to post within a Learning Management System (LMS). Use reflective methods to determine students perceptions of individual assessments (for example, leadership style) and how they can use that information to develop a plan for career growth. 

Spotlight Applications

All chapters include a Spotlight Application.  These are unfolding case studies that are associated with the chapter content.  Each contains an activity designed to support application to the chapter’s content.

• Suggested teaching strategy: Use some of these case studies for discussion in class or online. Have students compare and contrast the experiences of the persons described in the case studies with their own work experiences.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement^[1] has multiple resources available to leverage change in health systems. Users must register to use these resources and adhere to the Terms of Use.  Below are examples of how some of the IHI resources can be utilized to support concepts outlined in this book. Note that this book is not intended to teach the comprehensive method of Quality Improvement, but it provides a snapshot of change concepts needed to lead change in health systems.  These suggested application activities represent a small portion of the IHI resources available;  readers are encouraged to visit https://www.ihi.org/ for a comprehensive review.

Chapter 1 Navigating Leadership

• “[QI Team Member Work Styles Inventory Worksheet]. Boston, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; [2019]. (Available on www.IHI.org)”
• Suggested teaching strategy: Have students complete this worksheet to identify their own as well as team member workstyles and potential contributions to a Quality Improvement proposal in their workplace.

Chapter 2 Leading Effective Solutions in Organizations

• “[Aim Statement Worksheet]. Boston, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; [2019]. (Available on www.IHI.org)”
• Suggested teaching strategy: Have students complete this worksheet to draft an Aim Statement that can be used for a Quality Improvement proposal in their workplace..

Chapter 3 Leading Effective Teams

• “[Quality Improvement Team Member Matrix Worksheet]. Boston, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; [2019]. (Available on www.IHI.org)”
• Suggested teaching strategy: Have students identify team members  that will contribute to a Quality Improvement proposal in their workplace..

Chapter 5 Leading Effective Change

• “[Quality Improvement Project Change Concepts Worksheet]. Boston, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; [2019]. (Available on www.IHI.org)”
• Suggested teaching strategy:  Have students complete this worksheet to identify change concepts that will contribute to a Quality Improvement proposal in their workplace..

Chapter 6 Leading Effective Outcomes

• “[Cause and Effect Diagram]. Boston, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; [2017]. (Available on www.IHI.org)”
• Suggested teaching strategy:  Have students complete this diagram to identify the cause and effect of  a specified problem in their workplace.  This is helpful in identifying potential solutions to the problem that will lead to a Quality Improvement proposal in their workplace.

Writing Support

Students returning to school may need additional writing support in some areas. Refer students to  Appendix A Scholarly Writing Resources for support in APA and other writing resources.