BSN Students Present Quality Improvement Projects

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 28, students in the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program presented their Quality Improvement Projects Focused on Patient Safety to an audience of University faculty, staff, and students. The projects represented the final assignments for the Patient Quality and Safety course taught by Dr. Nancy Barsamian, assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, who was invited by BSN Program Chair Dr. Nour Alayan to teach this month-long course.

Dr. Barsamian opened the event by explaining that the course’s patient safety framework was based on the “Donabedian model” developed in 1966 by Avedis Donabedian, physician and health services researcher at the University of Michigan, whose ideas are still used today. 

The first presentation on the dangers of patient misidentification was given by Arpik Shahinyan (BSN ’26), Lilit Ayvazyan (BSN ’26), Knarik Aristakesyan (BSN ’26), Meri Hovhannisyan (BSN ’26), and Zhanna Misakyan (BSN ’26). The students pointed out that failures in patient identification — such as incorrect/missing wristband labeling, administrative issues, incorrect documentation in patient charts, and non-standardized procedures for patient transfer — can result in accidents such as wrong-site surgery and other medical tragedies. 

Their proposed interventions to prevent such errors were based on three main components. First was the creation of policies and standardized protocols for patient identity verification with the Ministry of Health of Armenia to be implemented throughout the Armenian health care system. Second was the integration of technology such as barcode scanners and wristband printers. Third, they advocated for the implementation of better education and training of health care personnel. With these key interventions, the BSN students offered helpful insight into the potential improvement of patient identification practices. 

The group concluded its presentation with the following statement: “Patient Identification should be done as a measure of patient vital signs. Correct identification means safe care.”

The second Quality Improvement Project was presented by students Gohar Benjanyan (BSN ’26), Kristine Avetisyan (BSN ’26), Kristine Soghomonyan (BSN ’26), Liana Danelyan (BSN ’26), and Varduhi Balasanyan (BSN ’26). Their focus was on the improvement of medication storage, labeling, and distribution. 

After identifying key problem areas of high-alert medication storage and dispensing, the team suggested the following interventions: the development of standardized operating procedures, the integration of barcode and scanner technology into the physical storage space, the creation of comprehensive training and education for healthcare workers regarding distribution, and even the implementation of Automated Dispensing Cabinets. 

The students’ proposals demonstrated a clear understanding of Dr. Barsamian’s course and a commitment to safe patient care. “BSN students are making great progress in their BSN journey and toward their Capstone Projects, which can be focused on quality and patient safety and can make a big difference in this area in their workplaces and beyond,” said Dr. Alayan.

The American University of Armenia’s Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.