Improving Postoperative Neonatal Nutritional Practices in an Intensive Care Unit Using the PDSA Cycle

Quality Improvement models offer a framework for health care professionals to follow in implementing process improvement changes. Use of these models promotes a systematic approach to problem solving, keeps providers from eliminating important steps, facilitates team work, and provides a clear plan for ongoing communication. This paper describes use of the Plan-Do-Study-Act model to implement a unit-based quality improvement project that focused on improving postoperative nutritional practices for neonates with critical congenital heart disease following complex cardiac surgery.