Implementing small tests of change to improve patient satisfaction.

The Institute of Medicine supports proposed changes in the overall delivery of healthcare and the nurses' work environment to achieve improved patient outcomes and protect the public from unnecessary harm. Allowing nurses to have a voice in decision making and influence over their practice, in an environment that fosters autonomy and interdisciplinary collaboration, enhances nurse satisfaction while improving the quality of patient care. The authors describe how a pediatric medical unit engaged in small tests of change to improve communication and patient satisfaction on an inpatient unit.