ATI LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT
SAFETY PRACTICE TEST 2026
◉ Competent nurse
Answer: These are usually nurses who have been in practice for 2 to
3 years.
They demonstrate increasing levels of skill and proficiency and
clinical judgment.
They exhibit the ability to organize and plan care using abstract and
analytical thinking.
They can anticipate the long-term outcomes of personal actions.
◉ Proficient nurse
Answer: These are nurses who have a significant amount of
experience upon which to base their practice.
Enhanced observational abilities allow nurses to be able to
conceptualize situations more holistically. Well-developed critical
thinking and decision-making skills allow nurses to recognize and
respond to unexpected changes.
◉ Expert nurse
,Answer: Expert nurses have garnered a wealth of experience so they
can view situations holistically and process information efficiently.
They make decisions using an advanced level of intuition and
analytical ability.
They do not need to rely on rules to comprehend a situation and
take action.
◉ Quality improvement
Answer: Also called performance improvement or quality control.
Process used to identify and resolve performance deficiencies.
Quality improvement includes measuring performance against a set
of predetermined standards. In health care, these standards are set
by the facility and consider accrediting and professional standards.
Standards of care should reflect optimal goals and be based on
evidence.
The quality improvement process focuses on assessment of
outcomes and determines ways to improve the delivery of quality
care. All levels of employees are involved in the quality improvement
process.
The Joint Commission's accreditation standards require institutions
to show evidence of quality improvement in order to attain
accreditation status.
◉ Outcome (clinical) indicators
, Answer: Reflect desired client outcomes related to the standard
under review. Measures whether a procedure is effective in meeting
the desired benchmark.
◉ Structure indicators
Answer: Reflect the setting in which care is provided and the
available human and material resources.
◉ Process indicators
Answer: Reflect how client care is provided and are established by
policies and procedures (clinical
practice guidelines). Provide important information about how a
procedure is being carried out.
◉ Benchmarks
Answer: Goals that are set to determine at what level the outcome
indicators should be met.
◉ Steps in quality improvement process
Answer: A standard is developed and approved by a facility
committee.
Standards are made available to employees by way of policies and
procedures.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT
SAFETY PRACTICE TEST 2026
◉ Competent nurse
Answer: These are usually nurses who have been in practice for 2 to
3 years.
They demonstrate increasing levels of skill and proficiency and
clinical judgment.
They exhibit the ability to organize and plan care using abstract and
analytical thinking.
They can anticipate the long-term outcomes of personal actions.
◉ Proficient nurse
Answer: These are nurses who have a significant amount of
experience upon which to base their practice.
Enhanced observational abilities allow nurses to be able to
conceptualize situations more holistically. Well-developed critical
thinking and decision-making skills allow nurses to recognize and
respond to unexpected changes.
◉ Expert nurse
,Answer: Expert nurses have garnered a wealth of experience so they
can view situations holistically and process information efficiently.
They make decisions using an advanced level of intuition and
analytical ability.
They do not need to rely on rules to comprehend a situation and
take action.
◉ Quality improvement
Answer: Also called performance improvement or quality control.
Process used to identify and resolve performance deficiencies.
Quality improvement includes measuring performance against a set
of predetermined standards. In health care, these standards are set
by the facility and consider accrediting and professional standards.
Standards of care should reflect optimal goals and be based on
evidence.
The quality improvement process focuses on assessment of
outcomes and determines ways to improve the delivery of quality
care. All levels of employees are involved in the quality improvement
process.
The Joint Commission's accreditation standards require institutions
to show evidence of quality improvement in order to attain
accreditation status.
◉ Outcome (clinical) indicators
, Answer: Reflect desired client outcomes related to the standard
under review. Measures whether a procedure is effective in meeting
the desired benchmark.
◉ Structure indicators
Answer: Reflect the setting in which care is provided and the
available human and material resources.
◉ Process indicators
Answer: Reflect how client care is provided and are established by
policies and procedures (clinical
practice guidelines). Provide important information about how a
procedure is being carried out.
◉ Benchmarks
Answer: Goals that are set to determine at what level the outcome
indicators should be met.
◉ Steps in quality improvement process
Answer: A standard is developed and approved by a facility
committee.
Standards are made available to employees by way of policies and
procedures.
