NQF Identifies Nursing Measures,
Examines Research Gaps
August 29, 2003 - The steering committee for the National
Quality Forum's Nursing Care Performance Measures project
met on Aug. 20-21 to review potential measures for evaluating
the performance of nursing in acute care hospitals. Forum
staff identified the candidate measures and categorized them
according to the steering committee's evaluation framework
[see Washington Highlights,
June 20]. The steering committee also discussed the research
gaps to develop a prioritized research agenda.
After discussing the research priorities in the evaluation
framework, the steering committee reviewed the 57 candidate
measures identified by NQF staff. The steering committee approved
the following thirteen measures for public reporting:
- Failure to rescue;
- Prevalence of decubitus ulcers;
- Central line catheter-associated bloodstream infection
rate for ICU patients;
- Urinary catheter associated UTI for ICU patients;
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia for ICU patients and
high risk nursery patients;
- Smoking cessation counseling;
- Skill mix;
- Nursing care hours per patient day;
- Urinary tract infection;
- Hospital acquired pneumonia;
- Falls with injury;
- Restraint prevalence; and
- Use of the revised nursing work index, to consider the
nurses work environment.
During the research agenda discussion, several steering committee
members mentioned the importance of considering the nurses'
work environment. They also commented on the lack of approved
measures in the area. The steering committee agreed on the
importance of having measures that focus on positive instead
of negative clinical outcomes. In addition, they agreed that
research is needed on the relationship between nursing and
other variables besides staffing. NQF members and the public
will be able to comment on the measures once a final steering
committee report is drafted.
Information:
Jennifer Grosky
jgrosky@aamc.org
(202) 862-6221, or
Jeff Patyk, Staff Specialist
AAMC Health Care Affairs
jpatyk@aamc.org
(202) 828-0498
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