A recent study published in Nursing Outlook proposes a significant shift in how nursing care is measured within acute and critical care settings. The research, led by Martha A.Q. Curley, PhD, RN, a professor of nursing in Penn Nursing’s Department of Family and Community Health, proposes a “Blueprint for Action” that aims to recognize the full scope of nurses’ work and its impact on patient outcomes.
The study identifies nine core domains of practice where nurses provide essential care, ranging from clinical expertise to patient education and emotional support. This comprehensive approach seeks to capture the diverse skill sets and contributions of nurses that current measurement systems often overlook.
Moving beyond simply preventing negative events, the blueprint advocates for measuring positive outcomes directly linked to nursing interventions. It emphasizes the need for a supportive hospital environment that empowers nurses to provide optimal patient care.
The researchers call for collaboration between nurses, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare systems to develop and implement new outcome measures. They suggest that making nurses’ contributions more visible could lead to better recognition of their impact on patient well-being and potentially create a more rewarding career path for nurses.
The study outlines specific actions for various stakeholders in the healthcare system. It encourages bedside nurses to engage in discussions about impactful nursing practices and participate in data collection efforts. Nurse leaders are urged to use data and analytics to focus on patient outcomes derived from the full spectrum of nursing care.
While the study does not specifically focus on elderly patients, its comprehensive approach to measuring nursing care could potentially benefit all patient demographics, including seniors, who often require complex care in acute and critical care settings.
