Quality assurance nurses are like other QA employees within an organization. They are tasked with evaluating nursing practices within an agency or department and recommending changes for improvement.
Quality Assurance nurses use their critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities for the betterment of the healthcare agencies they oversee. Additionally, they must possess patient assessment skills, conduct data analysis, and provide case management, as needed.
In this article, we will explore:
What's your current role?
The duties of a quality assurance nurse extend beyond simply optimizing care. They are responsible for overseeing regulatory readiness and adverse event review. Depending on where they work, essential duties and responsibilities vary. In general, QA nurses may be required to perform the following tasks:
Quality care nurses are not just administrators. They must have hands-on nursing skills to fulfill some requirements of the job. Acute care abilities are crucial.
Quality assurance nurses are able a bit more flexible than most traditional nursing roles. QA nurses are able to work remotely most of the time, with occasional visits to facilities when needed.
Quality assurance nurses must earn a BSN or ADN degree from an accredited nursing program. BSN programs take approximately four years to complete and typically cover general nursing skills and practices. ADN programs consist of a two-year curriculum that focuses on clinical training in several nursing specialties.
Every state, including the District of Columbia, requires RNs to be licensed upon completion of their nursing degree program. State requirements vary, but as a rule, RN candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN to earn licensure. Both ADN and BSN nursing programs prepare nursing candidates to sit for the NCLEX.
Quality assurance nurses with clinical experience in long-term care and in-home care are preferred by some employers. Knowledge of the quality review process, and expertise in state and federal health regulations, is a plus.
Certification is available for quality assurance nurses but is not required. The National Association for Healthcare Quality offers a certification program. Nurses complete the online course and must pass an exam to earn certification. Recertification is required every two years in addition to the completion of relevant CEUs.
Some quality assurance nursing candidates opt to go on in their schooling to earn a master’s degree. These programs focus on healthcare quality and are a popular choice. Some of the topics that nurses can expect to cover in a Master of Science in Nursing Healthcare Quality and Safety are healthcare economics, healthcare law, healthcare leadership, patient safety, and quality improvement.
Other requirements and professional certifications vary by state, so it is important to check with your intended state of licensure to ensure all mandates are met.
