Progress in measuring nursing outcomes.

Abstract

This paper examines the progress made in the measurement of the 'outcomes' of nursing. Although nursing has a long history of outcome research which extends as far back as Florence Nightingale, an examination of the literature over the past 30 years gives little impression of progress. Significant difficulties still remain in identifying outcomes relevant to nursing intervention, measurement techniques and appropriate study designs. However, progress has been made. The paper examines various recent trends which point to ways forward for outcome research. In particular it is emphasized that future work should build upon the strengths of past work in the use of measurement tools and the identification of relevant variables. Outcome research in nursing should not be limited to identifying the immediate results of nursing intervention, nor should research into 'structure' or 'process' variables be neglected. Such concepts are vital to determining the nursing contribution to changes in a patient's health and well being. The future of outcome research depends on a range of appropriate research methods and measurement techniques.