Nursing Care Quality Measurement

摘要

The actions of nurses have significant effects on patient outcomes. The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) asserts that measuring the quality of care that registered nurses provide to women throughout their lives, before, during, and after birth and to newborns is fundamental to the well-being of women and newborns. The nurse's expert knowledge confers the authority to shape the care environment and to influence decisions of patients. Therefore, measuring the quality of nursing care is a necessary component of any effort to improve the overall quality of health care provided to women and newborns. Because nurses represent the largest group of health professionals in the United States, effective quality measurement must account for their actions. Currently, the contribution and significance of nursing practice to overall patient outcomes is not well recognized or well documented, especially in the areas of women's health and perinatal nursing.