Quality circles: One organization's experience

Abstract

Decentralization of quality assurance activity or total quality management (TQM) is a goal set by many health services. Effective and efficient use of available resources is usually the goal. This article describes the efforts of one organization to decentralize its nursing quality assurance program. Quality circles provided forums for an increasing acceptance by ward-based nurses of their role in establishing quality as central to nursing practice. This emphasis on local group processes has helped staff to work with each other to solve problems related to the work of nursing.