Capella University

NURS-FPX6016: Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care

A study guide to an MSN FlexPath course on designing and evaluating interprofessional quality improvement and patient safety.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

NURS-FPX6016, Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care, is an MSN FlexPath course at Capella University, also open to Accelerated Master's Pathway and BSN/MSN students.

The catalog says students develop competence in designing, implementing and evaluating interprofessional quality improvement initiatives.

They investigate quality improvement models with an emphasis on outcome identification and measurement, and examine quality within patient safety through adverse event and near-miss analyses. Success depends on choosing measures that match the problem.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityCapella University
Code and titleNURS-FPX6016, Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care
Program points2
Who can take itAccelerated Master's Pathway, BSN/MSN and MSN students in the FlexPath option
PrerequisiteNHS-FPX4000 or NURS-FPX4000, or completion of or concurrent enrollment in NHS-FPX5004; certain specialization tracks must also have completed NURS-FPX5003, 5005 and 5007
Typical workWritten assessments on quality improvement design, measures and safety analysis

What NURS-FPX6016 Covers

ThemeIn plain language
Interprofessional initiativesImprovement work done with the whole team, not by nursing alone
Quality improvement modelsStructured methods such as PDSA cycles
Outcome identification and measurementChoosing what to count and how
Adverse events and near missesLearning from harm and from close calls
Patient safetyReducing preventable harm

Key Concepts Explained

PDSA Cycles

Plan, do, study, act. Small tests of change let teams learn quickly before wider rollout.

Invented illustration: Plan: a bedside handover checklist on one unit. Do: use it for two weeks. Study: compare missed-information reports with the previous fortnight. Act: adapt the checklist and test again, or spread it.

Structure, Process and Outcome Measures

Donabedian's framework helps you pick balanced measures: structure (resources), process (what is done) and outcome (what results). Add a balancing measure to catch side effects.

Analyzing Near Misses

Tools such as root cause analysis and fishbone diagrams look for system causes. A just culture focuses on fixing systems while holding people accountable for reckless behavior.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Check your courseroom for the actual tasks. Typical forms follow.

Task typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Safety event analysisFinding causesSeparate contributing factors and link to system fixes
Quality improvement planDesign and measurementState aim, model, measures and team roles
Team proposalCollaborationName each profession's role and communication method

Writing a Quality Improvement Aim

A good aim says what will improve, for whom, by how much and by when. Compare the two versions below.

Weak aimStrong aim
Improve patient safety.Reduce medication administration near misses on one unit by a stated percentage within six months.
Raise staff awareness.Have all unit nurses complete a checklist-based handover audit each week for three months.

The percentages in an assessment should come from your baseline data or be clearly described as targets for illustration.

Structuring a Quality Improvement Plan

A quality improvement plan reads like a short project charter. Include these parts, in this order.

  1. Problem statement with baseline data, or a clear note that data would be collected.
  2. Aim stated with direction, size and time frame.
  3. Team: the professions involved and what each contributes.
  4. Model: PDSA or another structure, with a reason for choosing it.
  5. Measures: outcome, process and balancing.
  6. Analysis plan: how you will display and interpret the data, for example a run chart.
  7. Spread and sustain: what happens after a successful test.

Adverse Events and Near Misses

TermMeaningWhy the course cares
Adverse eventHarm reaches the patientLearn what failed in the system
Near missError caught before harmShows weaknesses before anyone is hurt

Near misses are often more useful for improvement than adverse events because they are more frequent and people are more willing to discuss them.

Terms to Know Before You Write

TermMeaning
Run chartA time-ordered graph used to see trends and shifts in data
Balancing measureA measure that checks for unintended consequences of a change
Root cause analysisA method for finding underlying system causes of an event
Just cultureAn approach that balances learning from errors with accountability

Before You Submit

Working Sessions That Keep You Moving

SessionTaskOutput
1Define the problem and what data would show itProblem statement
2Write the aim and choose the modelAim and model rationale
3List outcome, process and balancing measuresMeasures table
4Assign professions and plan the first PDSA testTeam and test plan

Treat the first PDSA test as small on purpose; a one-unit, two-week trial is easier to defend than a hospital-wide launch.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for NURS-FPX6016

How We Help with NURS-FPX6016

Send the brief, scoring guide and your notes or draft. A graduate nursing writer can explain quality tools, prepare a custom plan, or review your draft.

GradeEssays is independent of Capella University. We provide tutoring, model work and feedback only, never courseroom access, and no promised result.

Strengthen Your NURS-FPX6016 Plan

Share the brief, scoring guide and draft. A nursing writer prepares a model or detailed feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does NURS-FPX6016 cover?

Design, implementation and evaluation of interprofessional quality improvement initiatives, improvement models, outcome measurement and patient safety analysis.

How many program points?

2.

Who can take it?

Accelerated Master's Pathway, BSN/MSN and MSN students in the FlexPath option.

Is it a prerequisite for other courses?

Yes. NURS-FPX6020 and some BSN courses list it as a prerequisite or alternative.

What is the difference between an adverse event and a near miss?

An adverse event reaches the patient and causes harm; a near miss is caught before it does.

Will you write my plan for submission?

No. We offer tutoring, model work and feedback only.