Which statement best describes quality improvement cycles in nursing care?

• A. The cycle never uses Plan, Do, Study, Act.
• B. Each cycle uses Plan, Do, Study, Act to test changes on a small scale.
• C. PDSA is not used in nursing.
• D. Results are not used for further improvement.

Answer: (B)

Quality improvement cycles in nursing rely on small, iterative tests of change using Plan-Do-Study-Act. In a cycle you plan a specific improvement and how you’ll measure success, implement the change on a limited scale (a pilot), study the data to see what happened and whether goals were met, and then act on what you’ve learned—adopt the change, adjust it, or abandon it and start a new cycle. The results from one cycle inform the next, supporting continuous improvement and safer, more effective care. This approach is standard in nursing to test and spread improvements while managing risk.