Workflow analysis aims to determine workflow patterns that maximize the effective use of resources and minimize activities that do not add value. There are a variety of tools that can be used to analyze the workflow of processes and clarify potential avenues for eliminating waste. Flowcharts are a basic and commonly used workflow analysis method that can help highlight areas in need of streamlining.

In this Assignment, you select a common event that occurs regularly in your organization and create a flowchart representing the workflow. You analyze the process you have diagrammed and propose changes for improvement.

To prepare:

• Identify a common, simple event that frequently occurs in your organization that you would like to evaluate.
• Consider how you would design a flowchart to represent the current workflow.
• Consider what metrics you would use to determine the effectiveness of the current workflow and identify areas of waste.

To complete:

Write a 4- to 5-page paper which includes the following: APA style

• Create a simple flowchart of the activity you selected. (Review the Sample Workflow of Answering a Telephone in an Office document found in this week’s Learning Resources for an example.)
• Next, in your paper:
• Explain the process you have diagrammed.
• For each step or decision point in the process, identify the following:
• Who does this step? (It can be several people.)
• What technology is used?
• What policies and rules are involved in determining how, when, why, or where the step is executed?
• What information is needed for the execution of this step?
• Describe the metric that is currently used to measure the soundness of the workflow. Is it effective?
• Describe any areas where improvements could occur and propose changes that could bring about these improvements in the workflow.
• Summarize why it is important to be aware of the flow of an activity.
• Remember to include a cover page, introduction, and summary for your paper

Skin wounds are sometimes challenging for health care providers to diagnose and treat as many have similar presentations. For advanced practice nurses, being able to identify various types of skin wounds, including whether a wound is a colonization or an infection, is critical because it impacts recommended patient care. In your role, you must be able to evaluate skin wounds, determine the diagnosis, and develop an appropriate treatment and management plan according to current evidence-based guidelines.

To prepare:

• Review Chapter 45 of the Flaherty and Resnick text, as well as the Burr article in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Consider how to properly diagnose skin wounds in frail elders, including how to distinguish between a colonization and infection.
• Select a type of skin wound, such as bumps, bruises, shingles, herpes, bullous pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, etc. Research the guidelines for treatment of the skin wound you selected. Reflect on how you would treat and/or dress this wound.
• Think about factors that might contribute to the development of the skin wound you selected. Consider strategies for the prevention and improvement of this type of wound.

To complete:

Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

• Explain how to properly diagnose skin wounds in frail elders, including how to distinguish between a colonization and infection.
• Describe the type of skin wound you selected.
• Explain how you would treat and/or dress this wound based on guidelines for treatment.
• Explain factors that might contribute to the development of the skin wound you selected. Include strategies for the prevention and improvement of this type of wound.

By Day 7

This Assignment is due.

Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates). All papers submitted must use this formatting.