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Evidence-Base Practice for Magnet Nursing Projects
using Control Charts and Pareto Charts in Excel

At the 2006 Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) conference, Dr. Don Berwick asked everyone to "pledge allegiance to science and evidence," by which he meant the use of control charts, Pareto Charts, fishbones and other quality tools. In the decades that followed, he reiterated his request. The evidence suggests that few practitioners listened.

Hospitals seaking Magnet designation must do 200 improvement projects. Having attended Magnet conference for over a decade I can tell you that most improvement project posters use only line, bar and pie charts from the last century. At the 2025 conference, 91% of the tools were line, bar and pie charts. There was only one control chart among the 100s of posters.

How to Develop World-Class Improvement Projects

Here's a short PDF on how to develop "kick-butt" improvement posters. Click Here.

Healthcare Case Studies

Over the years, I've developed a number of healthcare improvement case studies. Review these for insights into world-class improvement projects.

Six Sigma Healthcare Medication Errors

Six Sigma Healthcare Case Study Example

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Six Sigma Healthcare Case Study - Patient Falls

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Six Sigma Healthcare Case Study - Retained Foreign Objects

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Start Using the Tools of Quality - Control Charts, Pareto Charts and Fishbones
QI Macros Add-in Draws Control Charts Right in Excel!

Other Charts Included in QI Macros Add-in for Excel