Development of a data registry to evaluate the quality and safety of nursing practice

Aim: To describe the development, testing, and implementation of a data registry of nursing-sensitive indicators for measuring the quality and safety of nursing practice. Background: Recent research has established causal links between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Unit level data is necessary for implementation of evidence-based strategies on nurse staffing and nursing care processes. Design: Multi-site, cross-sectional design. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from administrative data sets on nurse staffing, patient flow, and adverse events in three hospitals in 2016. Periodic observational surveys on pressure injury prevalence, hand hygiene practices, and documentation of processes of care were also conducted. Prospective data were collected from patients at time of discharge using the Caring Assessment Tool. Nurses' perceptions of their practice environment were assessed using the Nursing Work Index - Revised: Australian. Data from annual Press Ganey ® surveys on patient satisfaction/experience were obtained. Results: The Australian Nursing Outcomes Collaborative (AUSNOC) data registry was developed in three phases. Phase 1 involved development of a data codebook; phase 2 involved development and testing of data collection methods; and phase 3 involved development of data reports and data dissemination strategies. This paper gives an overview of these phases and includes a summary of the descriptive statistics from the indicator set. Conclusion: Unit level data is pivotal for measuring the quality and safety of nursing care. Data from the Australian Nursing Outcomes Collaborative (AUSNOC) can be feasibly collected and used to benchmark nursing performance, evaluate patient outcomes, and identify areas for practice improvement.