Introduction
The National Nursing Quality Indicators Database is the only national nursing database that reports quarterly and annually on nursing structure, processes, and outcome measures to evaluate nursing care at the department level. Nurses are healthcare professionals who regularly have direct contact with patients; therefore, they are acknowledged as representatives of the hospital to patients.
Importance of Quality Nursing Care
Quality indicators are an integral part of nursing care, as they encompass data on patient satisfaction and nursing outcomes, which can be used to assess the overall quality of nursing care for patients (Dzikowicz & Carey, 2022). Furthermore, the indicators demonstrate how nurses can develop and contribute to improving the health care system. Thus, the use of nursing quality measures can improve the quality of patient care throughout the hospital and healthcare system.
One of the most critical core responsibilities in nursing is to assess and improve patient care. It is accomplished by having nurses provide quality care to patients throughout the hospital. The quality care indicator includes information about preventing patients from falling, positioning patients to prevent ulcers, and preventing nosocomial infections, pneumonia, and wound infections. High-quality patient care can improve patients’ health outcomes and reduce the length of hospital stay (Dzikowicz & Carey, 2022).
High standards of nursing care quality increase patient satisfaction and allow hospitals to accept more patients who need care. Furthermore, quality indicator data encourage nurses to improve their knowledge and have more authority over their actions. For example, quality improvement data reveal the most effective and valuable methods and interventions in modern healthcare. Thus, access to information about quality care can help nurses improve their skills and mobilize all available resources.
Role of Nursing Quality Database
Furthermore, the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) can also help empower nurses. Focusing on feedback, job satisfaction, environmental factors, and practice experiences reveals how nurses can optimize their careers and workplaces to deliver the best care and culture for patients and healthcare providers. In addition, healthcare organizations use this information to implement practice initiatives and new technologies to improve the nurse’s experience with the client.
Each year, new indicators are added to the database. Additionally, over the next 18 months, existing indicators in the database will be made available to all relevant nursing departments. For example, the existing psychiatric assault indicators may be appropriate in the emergency department (ED) because the ED is the point of entry for these patients. As the demand for data grows, facilities can better respond to the needs of their patients and staff by expanding existing indicators in relevant areas.
It is advisable to evaluate care not only on the day the patient is discharged from the hospital, but also at every meeting with the patient, such as during rounds and procedures. It makes the system of care evaluation as complete and objective as possible. Such data should necessarily be stored in a national repository of quality indicators. It makes the evaluation system as complete and objective as possible.
Additionally, the patient’s condition changes daily, sometimes multiple times a day. The change in condition may be due not only to the nature of the disease but also to the attitude of the medical staff, contact with roommates, and other factors. It is advisable to notice the patient and note any changes that occur.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay examined the significance of the information stored in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators. The paper states that nursing quality indicators are essential in improving nursing quality of care standards throughout the healthcare system. The paper also determined that quality indicators encourage nurses to improve their knowledge and develop new skills. I believe the database provides a valuable source of information about the quality of care in a hospital, reflecting the impact of nursing care on patient health outcomes and satisfaction with services. Therefore, I believe that having a national repository of quality measures is crucial.
Reference
Dzikowicz, D. J., & Carey, M. G. (2022). Door-to-diuretic time: A new nursing quality Indicator? Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 37(5), 407-409. Web.
