NDNQI Nursing-Sensitive Indicators
Nursing-sensitive indicators reflect the structure, process, and patient outcomes of nursing care.
- Structure - supply of nursing staff, skill level of staff, and education of staff
- Process - assessment, intervention, and job satisfaction
- Outcomes - patient outcomes that improve if there is greater quantity and quality of nursing care
How are Nursing-Sensitive Indicators Developed?
- A potential indicator is identified that reflects nursing care and is not represented by a current indicator
- A literature review is performed
- If the indicator is supported by empirical evidence, it is sent to a panel of nursing experts
- These experts determine the validity of the potential indicator in nursing practice
- Once validity is determined, the panel asks participating facilities if data collection will place undue burden on the delivery of quality patient care
- Once the potential indicator has been empirically supported to be meaningful in clinical practice and it has been determined that no undue burden would be placed on participating facilities, a pilot study is performed in willing facilities
- Data collection methods are revised based on pilot study
- Those indicators that are of most value for the effort are added to the NDNQI list and measured
List of Indicators
- Nursing Hours per Patient Day - Structure
- Registered Nurses (RN) Hours per Patient Day
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) Hours per Patient Day
- Unlicensed Assistive (UAP) Hours per Patient Day
- Nursing Turnover Rate - Structure
- Nosocomial Infections - Outcome
- Patient Falls - Process and Outcome
- Patient Falls with Injury - Process and Outcome
- Injury Level
- Pressure Ulcer Rate - Process and Outcome
- Community-acquired
- Hospital-acquired
- Unit-acquired
- Pediatric Pain Assessment, Intervention, Reassessment (AIR) Cycle - Process
- Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration - Outcome
- Psychiatric Physical/Sexual Assault - Outcome
- RN Education/Certification - Structure
- RN Survey - Process and Outcome
- Job Satisfaction Scales
- Practice Environment Scale (PES)
- Restraints - Outcome
- Staff Mix - Structure
- RN
- LPN/LVNs
- UAP
- Percent Agency Staff
(ANA, 2010; Gallagher & Rowell, 2003; Montalvo, 2007; NDNQI, 2010a)