Final answer:
To address an increase in client falls in a long-term care facility, the nurse should start the quality improvement process by collecting data. This foundational step allows for a thorough understanding of the problem and helps to inform subsequent steps such as identifying causes and analyzing possible solutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
To begin the quality improvement process in response to an increase in client falls in a long-term care facility, the nurse should first collect data. This step is crucial for understanding the current situation, magnitude of the problem, and for establishing a baseline against which improvements can be measured. Once sufficient data is gathered, it can be analyzed to identify patterns, risk factors, and potential causes contributing to the increase in falls. Then, the process can move onto identifying causes, analyzing possible solutions, and initiating corrective action. By systematically approaching the issue starting with data collection, the nurse can ensure that any interventions implemented are based on evidence and targeted at the root of the problem.