Achieving sustainable quality improvement in nursing practice

Sustainability is key to ensuring that changes introduced through quality improvement (QI) initiatives are lasting. This is achieved by maximising the positive aspects of how care is delivered now, while thinking about what could be improved or changed in the future. Nurses are at the forefront of implementing changes in practice through QI initiatives, whether by introducing a new clinical protocol or embracing novel technologies. However, the implementation of sustainable QI initiatives remains a significant challenge in nursing practice.

A structured approach addresses key elements of sustainable QI through four core components:

Sustainable QI initiatives require systematic planning, continuous stakeholder engagement, and incremental implementation strategies.

The evidence-based guide outlined below provides healthcare practitioners with practical, actionable steps for implementing and maintaining quality improvements in clinical practice, offering a bridge between theoretical QI models and real-world application.

Ten practical tips are outlined below to help you in your journey to sustainable QI, whatever your level of experience. The guide integrates established methodological approaches, including the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle (PDSA) (NHS England/NHS Improvement, 2021) (Figure 1), with practice-oriented strategies for stakeholder engagement and resource optimisation.