Community Safety and Well-Being Environmental Scan

The Community Safety and Well-Being Environmental Scan project aims to conduct a thorough analysis of the existing Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) action tables. These tables focus on critical areas such as housing and homelessness, poverty and income, mental health, substance use and addictions, and crime prevention. The primary goal is to map out current local initiatives, mandates, and key players within these focus areas. By identifying gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for enhanced collaboration, the project seeks to inform strategic planning and improve existing CSWBP initiatives. This project will provide students with the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world social planning, gaining valuable experience in applied research and systems-level community work.

Enhancing Clinical Nursing Orientation at OSMH

Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital (OSMH) seeks to revamp its clinical nursing orientation program to better align with current nursing curriculum, best practice guidelines, and CNO standards. The goal is to create a tech-forward, engaging orientation experience that strengthens the onboarding process for new and returning nursing staff. This project aims to develop teaching tools that foster a supportive learning environment, encouraging professional growth and improving staff retention. By evaluating and refreshing existing materials, the project will ensure that the orientation process is inclusive, adaptive, and respects adult learning principles. The initiative will involve scoping and benchmarking with other hospitals to gather data and update the orientation curriculum, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and forward-thinking nursing workforce.

Ambulatory Clinic IV Therapy, Chair Time Optimization

Purpose:   1. Understand potential for current RVH infusion medicine patients to receive treatment in community 2. Understand if there are revenue generating opportunities in infusion medicine used at other Ontario  hospitals   3. Understand if there are opportunities to optimize chair time in the infusion medicine clinic 4. Develop projections for staffing and chair time required to service the infusion medicine requests of RVH  credentialed providers  - The outpatient medicine treatment clinic and infusion medicine clinic continue to evolve to accommodate  the requests of RVH credentialed providers and the needs of patients for outpatient medical support.  - Waitlist for routine iron infusions reached 15+ weeks in December 2024 (most providers order routine iron  within 6-8 weeks)  - The incidence of iron deficient anemia continues to rise. Over the past year, the Maternal Child Program  has supported this need by providing 1:1 RN coverage in the outpatient clinic for prenatal infusions.  Initially, 6-8 OBS iron infusion were requested each month. In November 2024, 40 patients were  accommodated, followed by 49 visits in December 2024, including some “same-day requests.   - WHO states that 30% of women between the ages of 15-49yrs and 37% of pregnant women suffer from  iron deficiency anemia . Then there is more detail about 52% of women in developing countries require  iron infusions. Therefore, with 2045 births last year we should be providing iron infusions for 750 women,  potentially.  - Understanding the IVIG burden at RVH, and long-term strategies for managing highest volume of IVIG  requisitions in Ontario 

Best Practice Review of Nurse-Led Patient Indicators

This project will review and assess the current state of several important Patient Quality Indicators which  Nurses have significant impact and control over, including falls, Wound/Skin Care, Delerium, and Mobility. The  student will complete a review of any current relevant policies and supporting documentation related to Best  Practice for these indicators, including resources from the CNO and RNAO, with each student taking the lead  on one or two of these topics. The ultimate purpose of the project will be to have the students understand the  important role nursing plays in these indicators, the impact they have on patient safety and outcomes, and the  improvement of these metrics within Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.  *to note a similar request has been entered by Stevenson Memorial Hospital and if partnership continues this  project could be done collaboratively across both hospitals* 

Review of OSMH Birthing Unit Discharge Package Contents and Educational Material for Support Persons

The purpose of this project is to reinvigorate the discharge package for postpartum families by revising outdated educational material and creation of new content.  In obstetrics, families are sent home with many educational materials pertaining to the care of their baby and themselves after discharge from the hospital. Some of these items are outdated, requiring revision to ensure they meet current best practices and guidelines from governing bodies such as the Canadian Paediatric Society. In addition to revision of current content, the project will also include amalgamating a list of credible resources and community supports that parents can access to support their parenting journey.  Furthermore, the project will include creation of a new educational pamphlet for the support person (if applicable). Currently, no education is specifically provided to the support person about how they can best care for a postpartum birthing person. This material will consist of expected outcomes and changes for the birthing person, signs and symptoms to watch for with regards to maternal mental health and the importance of healthy relationships on infant development.  Patient and family engagement will be a crucial component of this project to understand their learning needs and perceived gaps in our discharge process. Students will engage with patients and families after discharge to learn about where our discharge process can be improved and will implement these changes to ensure that families are going home feeling prepared for this transition.

From Fear to Function: Therapeutic Falls in Inpatient Rehabilitation

This capstone project explores the concept of therapeutic falls within inpatient rehabilitation, particularly  among stroke and rehab populations. The initiative aims to shift the narrative around falls from punitive to  purposeful by providing education to clinical staff on the distinction between anticipated physiological and  therapeutic falls. Key components include improving documentation practices to reflect clinical intent,  emphasizing the "why" behind the fall rather than just the reactive response, and establishing standardized  communication strategies for patients and families. The project will also introduce visual tools such as staff  and patient facing posters to reinforce key messages. Metrics will be tracked pre- and post-intervention to  evaluate accuracy in categorization and alignment with quality and risk reporting. The overarching goal is to  support patient independence while ensuring safety, transparency, and shared understanding across care  teams. 

Stroke in the Young

Stroke can happen at any age . .. but what does that mean for someone who is going to school, working full-time, raising a family, and may be a caregiver for elderly parents? So many questions come to mind. Why did it happen to me? How do I make sure it doesn't happen again? Will I ever get my life back? How can I look after my family?    A stroke can change one’s life in a moment, those who experience a stroke as a young adult face these distinct challenges as they recover.   Stroke in young adults is increasing. Regardless of what age is used as the cutoff age for "young", stroke in young adults is rising at a rate faster than older adults: 19% of hospital admissions for stroke & TIA were for patients between 20-59 years of age (HSF 2017)  20% of all strokes occur under the age of 60 years Read more here … https://cesnstroke.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/June-is-Stroke-Awareness-Month_Young-Stroke-Survivors_Regional.pdf   Students will lead a project related to Young Stroke. This project will provide students with an opportunity to comprehensively review young stroke issues, needs and available resources. The goals of the project are: to better understand the needs of young stroke, the education resources and community programs/services available to support recovery  to provide health care providers with education and resources to enable them to better support young persons with stroke

Family and Resident Satisfaction Survey in Hospice Care

This project aims to design, distribute, and analyze a Family and Resident Satisfaction Survey to evaluate perceptions of quality of end-of-life care and overall satisfaction within the hospice setting. The purpose is to gather meaningful feedback that can guide improvements in service delivery, enhance hospice experiences for both residents and their families, and support accreditation or compliance efforts. The project will include survey development, data collection, analysis, and presentation of findings and recommendations.

The implementation of the Delirium Health Quality Standard within Mental Health Care.

Delirium is one of the leading causes of preventable hospital harm in Ontario, impacting patient and provider safety, hospital access and flow, and increasing alternative level of care days. It is strongly associated with higher mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, and additional costs of $11,000 per hospitalization (Ontario Health, 2024). The Ontario provincial government has made the implementation of the Delirium Health Quality Standard a priority, with a multiyear quality initiative aimed at reducing hospital-acquired delirium. Currently, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care has limited data on delirium, as there is no formal screening for this condition. This project seeks to integrate delirium standards into the organization’s workflow. The primary objective is to improve patient safety, reduce unnecessary hospital stays, and lower the costs associated with delirium. By applying evidence-based interventions and enhancing the early identification of delirium, the project will contribute to the overall health and well-being of patients while reducing the burden on healthcare systems. 

Ethical Framework Use and Ethics Team Establishment

Hospital has an ethical framework however this is not well utilized.  This project is intended to create a guide to how to use the CGMH Ethical Framework.  The student will review frameworks from other organizations to identify tools and strategies that will support use of our framework.   CGMH is also interested in creating an ethics team.  The student will review the composition of Ethics Teams at other organizations to develop a plan.   Within the project the student will work with the VP Patient Services & CNE and have the ability to shadow a senior leader to understand the role of the CNE.

Speak Up on Patient Safety for Patients/Families

Engaging patients, and their families/caregivers, to speak up about their care and safety is an important aspect to improving patient safety. Using Canadian resources (ex. Health Excellence Canada, Patients for Patient Safety Canada, etc.) develop patient/family education on patient safety and how to speak up about concerns, as well as provide an implementation plan.

Safety Huddles to Support a Just Culture

To foster a just culture in an organization, develop a framework and implementation plan for nurse-led safety huddles on inpatient units. Students would be expected to work towards the above outcomes and deliverables, as well as meeting with Patient Safety Consultants at RVH to assist in mentorship/guiding the work. This can be done remotely. They may also be invited to Quality of Care Reviews to understand the outcome of patient safety reviews when safety items are brought forward/occur.

Patient Safety Education Platform

Review RVH’s patient safety plan and framework, Patient Safety SharePoint Page, and available resources. Leveraging adult learning principles, develop an education platform for front line team members to get engaged in Patient Safety behaviours, highlighting the ‘Good Catch’ program and showcasing the positive outcomes to patients by recognizing patient safety concerns before they reach the patient.

Patient Experience Rounding

Patient experience rounding can assist in addressing patient concerns with their experience and provide the opportunity for service recovery. Using best practices, RVH’s Patient Experience Framework and leveraging RVH’s partnership with The Beryl Institute, develop standardized rounding questions and an implementation plan for bedside patient experience rounding that aligns with the Vitally You strategic plan.

Improving Patient Experience on Discharge

The Ontario Patient Experience Survey asks if patients received enough information on discharge, measuring if patients feel they were successfully set up for their transition out of the hospital. Currently RVH is scoring 64%, which is below it’s performance target of 70%. Review the provided data, and target one inpatient unit that requires the most improvement. Research evidence-based practices to improve discharge for patients and develop an implementation plan for rolling this out on the selected inpatient unit. 

Improving Patient Experience in Diverse Groups

Review RVH’s patient experience data, specifically looking at patient demographics (ethnic/cultural background), and the correlating scores. Identify areas of improvement based on the data and develop a quality improvement initiative to support the patient experience among this population.

Development of an Ethics Education Plan for Frontline Staff

Review RVH’s current Ethics framework, SharePoint Page, and available resources. Applying adult learning principles, develop an education plan and implementation schedule for frontline staff on Ethics at RVH.  Students would be expected to work towards the above outcomes and deliverables, reviewing ethics resources, adult learning principles and how to create an education plan an implementation schedule. This can be done remotely. 

Fresh Air, Better Care: Safe Implementation of Odor Control Devices in Acute Care

Hospital environments are highly sensitive to sensory factors, with odors having a notable impact on patient and staff experience. This project will explore how odor control strategies, compliant with Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) guidelines, can be effectively introduced into inpatient units at RVH. The student will work closely with hospital teams to research odor control technologies, engage in stakeholder discussions, and develop planning and educational materials. The project includes a literature review, equipment scan, and consultation with Environmental Services, IPAC, and Procurement. The student will assist in gathering vendor data, drafting initial guidelines, and producing educational content for staff. While not involved in procurement or decision-making, the student will contribute to laying the groundwork for future implementation.

Pause on Pressure: Collaborative Education Initiative (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

Pause on Pressure: Educate. Prevent. Empower. is a quality improvement initiative designed to enhance pressure injury prevention through re-examining the core reasons why pressure injuries are occurring and looking at how patients and their families can collaborate with the interprofessional team within the healthcare setting. Through discussion on the foundational elements leading to pressure injury formation and through the use of an iterative process, nursing students from Georgian College will co-create and pilot innovative, low-cost educational approaches that engage patients and families as active partners in pressure injury prevention. This project emphasizes shared ownership and innovative approaches to encourage collaboration between staff, patients, and families.

Patient Flow Collaborative (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

The purpose of this project is to create a structured organizational governance to initiate and monitor strategic, hospital-wide projects related to Patient Flow. Additionally, this organizational governance will be responsible for launching and implementing key priorities aimed at fostering a data-driven culture in relation to patient flow for FY 25/26, as well as developing a comprehensive plan for FY 26/27 and expansion to include other utilization management initiatives (e.g., resource utilization, case costing etc.). 3. Student Involvement: Staff education on prioritized patient flow metrics, data analysis for quality improvement, and/or support for our patient placement algorithm. Student could be remote or onsite. 4. Resources Required (if any): RVH badge, access to Meditech Expanse, RVH email. 5. Support Offered to Students: Supported by patient flow manager and project manager. Offer orientation to project work. Will attend weekly meetings.

Horizons - Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Horizons is an evidence-based initiative designed to promote equitable nurse-patient workloads, enhance job satisfaction, and improve retention at RVH. To achieve this, we structured the project into phases. In Phase One, we spent six intensive weeks on each inpatient unit and the emergency department, gathering baseline data through three key sources: unit demographics, patient acuity and dependency using the validated Safer Nursing Care Tool (SNCT), and frontline staff insights from focus groups. Now, in Phase Two, we are reconnecting with units to validate our initial findings, collecting a second round of patient acuity data to reflect seasonality, and compiling the Horizons Report.

Evaluating Communication Effectiveness in Heart Function Clinic (Heart Function Clinic at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

The RVH Heart Function Clinic is a nurse practitioner-led program providing comprehensive care for patients with heart failure, focusing on assessment, education, and treatment. While the clinic tracks quantitative metrics such as readmission rates and length of stay, patient and caregiver perspectives on the adequacy of information provided during appointments have not been formally evaluated. Effective communication is essential to improving patient outcomes, self-management, and overall satisfaction. This study aims to assess whether patients feel they receive clear and useful information,and identify potential gaps in communication, and inform quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient- centered care.

CLABSI Quality Improvement in the Intensive Care Unit (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre)

Our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring optimal patient safety. To further our efforts in this area, we are seeking to collaborate with Year 4 HBSN students on a research-based quality improvement project focused on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at RVH. The purpose of this project is to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of our current CLABSI rates within the ICU. This project will evaluate our ICU's performance against evidence-based standards and leading practices from comparable institutions, while simultaneously identifying opportunities to refine our existing procedures based on current research. This project will allow students to develop evidence-based recommendations for implementing or modifying protocols and procedures to reduce CLABSI rates in our ICU. This project is expected to have a significant positive impact on our organization by: • Improving Patient Safety: By reducing CLABSI rates, we can directly improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. • Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice: The project will provide valuable insights into our current practices and facilitate the adoption of evidence-based interventions. • Facilitating Quality Improvement: The data analysis and benchmarking will enable us to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted quality improvement initiatives. • Strengthening Nursing Practice: The project will provide our nursing staff with valuable data and recommendations to inform their practice and promote a culture of continuous improvement. The evidence found would be shared with the nurses in our ICU.

Accelerate Patient Transfers (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH))

The purpose of this project is to expedite the transfer of patients from the Emergency Department (ED) to their assigned bed in the Inpatient Unit by implementing the Electronic Transfer of Accountability (eTOA). This will enable the use of Logistics (i.e., alternative non-clinical patient transporters), streamlining the process and improving efficiency.

Training Plan for Indigenous Cultural Safety at RVH.

Expected Outcomes & Deliverables: This project is expected to result in the development of an actionable Indigenous cultural safety training plan tailored to the needs of RVH. It will serve as a roadmap for integrating cultural safety education into the hospital.  Benefits to the Organization: Supports RVH’s commitment to reconciliation, health equity, and strategic plan.  Increased accessibility for training to staff that may not have the ability due to schedules/roles.  Offers a trauma informed approach to patient care.  Benefits for Students:  Real word experience with embedding Indigenous perspectives into healthcare.  Deepens students understanding.  Supports critical thinking, and community engagement.  Supports meaningful change in healthcare.  Student Involvement: This work can be completed by a hybrid approach, with a mix of onsite and remote work. The students will work in collaboration with RVH’s Indigenous patient services team.  Student tasks could include: Conducting research on best practices in Indigenous cultural safety training across other hospitals.  Gathering input through surveys or consultations with staff to identify staff needs and gaps. Assisting in the design of a training plan (e.g., structure, topics, levels). Outlining an implementation strategy including suggested timelines. Developing an evaluation model to measure improved patient care.  A final report or presentation that summarizes findings and recommendations. Resources Required (if any): Access to research (Staff can support in finding articles of note, case studies, and academic journals)  Access to staff  Policies  Support Offered to Students ( i.e. weekly meetings, mentorship, etc.): Meetings with students and Indigenous Patient Services.  By the end of this project, students will have contributed to a healthcare team that is leading the way in providing ongoing cultural safety training for staff, while hard wiring Indigenous initiatives through staff feedback. 

Improving Patient Experience: Data-Informed Quality Improvement (Southlake Health)

This project focuses on enhancing the patient experience by leveraging patient feedback and applying quality improvement principles. Students will review results from the Patient Experience Survey and the Patient Relations feedback to identify key themes and opportunities for improvement. They will also conduct environmental scans to understand best practices in similar healthcare settings. Based on their findings, students will propose a quality improvement initiative aimed at addressing identified gaps. The project will contribute to ongoing efforts to improve care delivery and patient satisfaction at the hospital.

Exploring Pain modalities and Outcomes to inform the Fractured Hip Optimization Project. (Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital)

The surgical team at OSMH is incorporating evidenced-based practices into the care plans for Patients who present with Fractured Hips. This work will continue to align with Ontario Health’s proposed Fracture Hip Standards. There will be direct review of conventional modalities with/without the use of fascia/iliac blocks related to patient outcomes. Outcomes directly reviewed will be pain control, functional outcomes related to early mobilization, delirium incidence and overall length of hospital stay.  

Optimizing Osteoporosis Management for the Fracture Population and Beyond! (Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital (OSMH))

Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital for many years has been partnered with Osteoporosis Canada (OC) to support surveillance of high-risk fracture patients. The Internal Osteoporosis Prevention Nurse Coordinator ensures patients have the necessary navigation to treatment regimens. To date there is not a large internal awareness of this screening done at OSMH, so having the students involved to add value and spread awareness to such a program would be an opportunity for us. Students could explore the work that has been done to date between OSMH/Osteoporosis Canada along with researching best practices to educate and promote the program. 

Predicting Local Healthcare Needs in Muskoka (Hospice Muskoka)

This project aims to map out the patient flow in Muskoka's healthcare system using data from key sources such as Hospice Muskoka, the District of Muskoka, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and Statistics Canada. The project will analyze current trends to create a five-year projection of local healthcare needs, focusing on hospice and palliative care services. The goal is to provide Hospice Muskoka with insights to better plan for future demand and improve the need for resources in the community.

ICU Sustainability Project Planning - Green Team (Brightshores Health System)

Climate change is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, and Intensive Care Units (ICU’s) are large consumers of energy and waste. ICUs rely heavily on single-use devices and patients require large amounts of drugs and supplies for their treatment. The sustainability Initiative for this capstone project is to lower the environmental impact of ICU admissions while maintaining high standards of quality care. One of the key initiatives for this project will be advocating and integrating sustainable practices into routine daily care for critically ill patients.