A group of nursing leaders is calling for a significant shift in the way nursing is measured in acute and critical care hospitals to better capture the full scope of nurses' work and its effect on patient outcomes.
The article, "Call to Action: Blueprint for Change in Acute and Critical Care Nursing," proposes a new framework that emphasizes nurses' role in driving positive patient outcomes beyond the prevention of negative events, and outlines the components of supportive environments that enable nurses to provide high-quality care.
Four details:
- The article was recently published in Nursing Outlook and written by 15 nursing leaders from institutions nationwide, including the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Devin Carr, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland.
- The proposal calls for a more comprehensive way to measure nurse's influence on patient care, beyond the prevention of harms such as falls, pressure injuries and line infections. It suggests broadening and aligning outcomes with what patients and families identify as important, such as trust, comfort, empathy, and compassion.
"The current measurement system fails to capture the essence of what nurses truly do," Martha Curley, PhD, RN, lead-author on the study, a professor of nursing at UPenn, and the Ruth M. Colkey Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing at Children's Hospital of Philadelia, said in a news release.
- The framework outlines nine core areas of nursing practice. Apart from clinical expertise, the domains of practice include patient education, advocacy and emotional support.
- The proposal outlines steps for nurses, hospital systems, researchers, policymakers and accreditors to collaborate in building and implementing new outcome measures.
"This blueprint marks a pivotal step towards a future where the value of acute and critical care nurses is fully recognized," Dr. Curley said. "By working together, we can ensure that the impact of nurses' work is clearly visible, leading to better patient outcomes and a more rewarding profession for nurses."