Nurse-sensitive Indicators (NSIs)

Nurse-sensitive Indicators (NSIs)

QUESTION 1

Nurse-sensitive Indicators (NSIs) are measures and indicators that portray the structure and processes of care and influences the outcome of nursing care (American Nursing Association, 2015). NSIs are specific to nursing, and they include patient satisfaction, clinical quality, and nurse satisfaction. NSIs have increasingly become a valid and reliable means of supporting the quality of nursing care and performance and also enhancement of clinical improvement strategies. The NSIs reflect three aspects of nursing care, which include; structure attributes relating to health service operation entailing the number of working hours and staffing. Outcome attributes that relate to patient care, such as the prevalence of pressure ulcers, falls, patient and family satisfaction, and HAIs. Process attributes entails the methods of patient assessment and interventions and also nurse satisfaction.

NURSE SENSITIVE INDICATORS AND IMPACT ON BEDSIDE NURSE PRACTICE

I will discuss the number of nursing care hours per patient and pressure ulcer indicators. The number of nursing care hours per patient determine the staffing needs of a hospital and the outcome of patient care. According to-ABCD satisfying the nurse-patient ratios will ensure delivery of quality care and promotion of patient safety goals. The number of hours per patient is determined by shift, workload, and staff available. The longer the hours spend on a patient, the higher the satisfaction of the patient outcomes because the nurse will fully dedicate their time to satisfying the health care needs of the patient. The outcome indicators are nurse and patient satisfaction, appropriate interventions, and complete documentation.

Pressure ulcers develop due to increased pressure resulting from patient bed contact. The development of pressure sores is an indicator of failure on the nurses’ side and not the patient. Current statistics indicate that there are rising cases of pressure ulcers, which is an easily preventable risk factor in the hospital setting. Since it develops in critically ill and immobile patients, the problem lies on the nurses’ side, and the poor patient outcomes are attributed to a failure in the implementation of appropriate nursing interventions.

NURSE ACCOUNTABILITY ON PATIENT HEALTH OUTCOMES

Nurses are in charge of satisfying patient needs; hence they are answerable to the attained patient outcomes. Health care delivery involves interdisciplinary team collaboration, which can only be facilitated by the nurse as they are the primary caregivers. Nurses are encouraged to document all interventions and follow up patient’s care according to hospital policies and the set standards. Nurses are also accountable because they are the patients’ advocators, coordinators, and they always interact with the patient. Therefore, to attain quality outcomes, nurse training and adequate staffing are needed.

References

Burston, S., Chaboyer, W., & Gillespie, B. (2014). Nurse‐sensitive indicators suitable to reflect nursing care quality: A review and discussion of issues. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 23(13-14), 1785-1795.

Stalpers, D., Kieft, R. A., Van Der Linden, D., Kaljouw, M. J., & Schuurmans, M. J. (2016). Concordance between nurse-reported quality of care and quality of care as publicly reported by nurse-sensitive indicators. BMC health services research, 16(1), 120.

QUESTION 2

The Leapfrog Group is a non-profit that serves as a local and national voice for the employer in ensuing hospital patient safety and quality care. It was formed due to the increase in medical mistakes and errors. The purpose is to identify and promote patient quality measures and provide data used in comparing hospital ability in attaining these standards. Health care transparency is defined as availing information regarding the quality of the health care system, efficiency, and consumer experience to the public reliably and understandably.

PROS AND CONS OF TRANSPARENCY

Transparency in healthcare promotes the reduction in mistakes and errors, thus reducing cases of injuries, accidents, and infections. Hospital patient data is released publicly, and this enables a patient to choose hospitals based on the quality of care being provided; hence it promotes patient satisfaction. Transparency allows patients to be aware of their rights and demand quality care, and also being aware of their needs puts the health care providers in check and always reminded them of their role. It also fosters the delivery of quality health care services as it providing a benchmarking tool against other health care providers. It helps private and public investors to reward quality and efficiency, and this helps the patient make informed choices on their care.

Transparency also has its disadvantages. When patients’ satisfaction is used to determine government funding, it will affect the health provider’s compensation and even job satisfaction. Transparency will prompt the health care providers to make non-patient centered choices to receive positive outcomes, which puts patients’ health at risk. Providers will feel a lot of pressure in balancing between patient demands and doing what is best for the client irrespective of what their interests are met or not.

DATA TO BE AVAILED TO THE PUBLIC

The data to be shared with the public include patient satisfaction ratings and caution, should be taken on making comments. After shifting to the transparency model, it is essential to closely monitor provider morale and satisfaction as this impacts the outcome of care. Data on prevalent diseases and their preventive measure will be helpful when released to the public rather than releasing other patient outcomes that will lead to criticism. Also, signs and symptoms of diseases and outbreaks are essential in addressing the rising concerns of the citizens.

I support the use of individualized nursing care data to evaluate nursing care because it will ensure responsibility and accountability in patient outcomes. It also ensures that providers implement the correct intervention, thus maximizing positive patient outcomes and foster delivery of patient-centered care. Lastly, quality of care is improved when transparency in sharing information with the patients and involving them in their care due to improved understanding of the patient’s condition.

References

Collins, S. R., & Davis, K. (2016). Transparency in health care: The time has come. Commonwealth Fund.

Hailey, D. (2013). Toward transparency in health technology assessment: a checklist for HTA reports. International journal of technology assessment in health care, 19(1), 1-7.