Our role as Australian BPSO® Host
The ANMF (SA Branch) is committed to creating and maintaining a culture of excellence in health care by forging innovative and evidence-based nursing and healthcare delivery through:
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transferring knowledge through evidence-based practice learning institutes and workshops in Australia;
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being the Australian link to the global BPSO® collaborative and support network;
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actively mentoring organisations on the implementation of the RNAO’s Best Practice Guidelines and other BPSO-related activities;
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managing BPSO® applications and contracts in Australia;
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assisting with BPSO evaluation activities; and
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developing and supporting BPSO®/champion networks across Australia.
Why BPSO®?
The Best Practice Spotlight Organisation (BPSO®) program provides a structured methodology for organisations to prepare, implement and evaluate evidence-based practice in a way that is sustainable over time.
The objectives of the BPSO® program are four-fold:
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Establish dynamic, long-term partnerships that focus on patient care through supporting knowledge-based nursing/midwifery practice;
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Demonstrate creative strategies for successfully implementing nursing and midwifery best practice guidelines (BPGs) at the individual and organisation level;
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Establish and utilise effective approaches to evaluate implementation activities utilising structure, process and outcomes indicators; and,
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Identify effective strategies for system-wide dissemination of BPG implementation and outcomes.
For more information on the rationale for the BPSO program,
click here.
About the BPSO® Best Practice Guidelines
The Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) are the foundation of the Registered Nurses’ of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Spotlight Organisation® (BPSO®) program. The RNAO is recognised as a world leader in best practice guideline development, dissemination, implementation and evaluation.
The BPGs are developed—and are regularly reviewed—using the best available evidence to provide clinicians with evidence-informed recommendations that:
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support clinical practice; and
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guide practitioner and patient decisions regarding appropriate healthcare in specific practice settings and circumstances.
When implemented, the BPGs support:
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Consistency in practice and care delivery;
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Improvement in clients’/patients’ health care experiences;
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Monitoring and evaluation of health care outcomes;
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Alignment of evidence-based practice with current accreditation standards.
To date, the BPGs implemented in South Australia include:
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Assessment and Care of Adults at Risk for Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour
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Breastfeeding – Promoting and Supporting the Initiation, Exclusivity and Continuation of Breastfeeding in Newborns, Infants and Young Children
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Care Transitions
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Delirium, Dementia and Depression in Older Adults : Assessment and Care
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Person and Family Centred Care
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Preventing Falls and Reducing Injury from Falls
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Promoting Asthma Control in Children
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Promoting Continence Through Prompted Voiding,
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Promoting Safety – Alternative Approaches to the use of Restraints
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Reducing Foot Complications for people with Diabetes
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Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers
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Supporting and Strengthening Families Through Expected and Unexpected Life Events
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Woman Abuse: Screening, Identification and Initial Response
View a list of all available RNAO Best Practice Guidelines,
click here.
BPSO® program outcomes
Locally, thousands of health professionals have championed and embraced the implementation of international best-practice processes in major public sector health networks that have made a real difference to outcomes for South Australian patients and clients.
International studies demonstrate that Best Practice Spotlight Organizations are more equipped to:
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achieve positive health outcomes for patients/clients;
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retain a qualified nursing and midwifery workforce;
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successfully attract staff; and
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make significant and sustained improvements in system performance and in reduction in costs.
In South Australia, the implementation of Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Guidelines in nursing/midwifery environments has led to significant improvements in client care, including:
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reductions in falls, pressure ulcers and amputations,
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reduced length of stay
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reduced incidence of urinary incontinence
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increased number of new mothers breastfeeding for longer periods.
BPSO® Practice Champions
Best Practice Champions are nurses, midwives and others who are passionate about improving nursing/midwifery practice and person-centred care within their organisation.
Best Practice Champions attend workshops and receive training in the relevant Best Practice Guideline/s, empowering them to:
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raise awareness
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role model and influence changes; and
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facilitate and support BPG implementation within their workplace.
BPSO® candidate worksites require a critical mass (target 15%) of key nurses and midwives to become BPSO Champions who are educated to lead and embed practice change at a ward/unit level.
The Champions model is well established in literature as an effective method of knowledge transfer to incorporate evidence into practice by facilitating the:
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Dissemination of evidence
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Transfer of knowledge
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Uptake of best practices
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Sharing of resources
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Prevention of “shelf-itis”
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Sustainability of the change
For more information on the Best Practice Champions Network, visit
rnao.ca.