Design: A longitudinal design was used to collect data on patient outcomes. Qualitative data were collected to explore nurses’, unit managers’, and organizational leaders’ perception of the utility of the outcomes data.

Sample: The setting consisted of 4 acute care hospitals, 8 long-term care facilities, 3 community care access centers, and one complex continuing care center. The sample consisted of 341 staff nurses, 25 managers, and 1298 patients from selected units.

Variables: Data on the following outcomes were collected: functional status, therapeutic self-care, symptom management (pain, fatigue, nausea, dyspnea), pressure ulcers and patient falls. Data were collected on nurses’ education, unit experience, staffing, nursing interventions and the continuity of care provider.

Methods: Nurses were trained to collect the outcomes data using standardized tools in either a paper or electronic form. Surveys were used to collect data on nurse characteristics and perceptions of the utility of the outcomes data. Research assistants collected data on nursing interventions based on chart abstraction. Focus groups were conducted to collect data on the utility of the outcome data from different stakeholder perspectives. Work sampling was used to estimate the costs associated with outcomes data collection.

Findings: The results will be presented relative to the quality of the data, sensitivity to nursing care, perceived utility, and costs of instituting outcomes data collection.

Conclusion: It is essential that we have relevant data about the contribution of nurses on which to evaluate policy decisions regarding human resources. Furthermore, it is important that we broaden our focus to include the positive effects of nurses to the health of individuals and communities.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004