Evaluating advanced practice nursing care through use of a heuristic framework

In our modification of a quality of care framework, we blended the labels of both models with respect to structure, labeling it structure/inputs. We then specified the types of characteristics in each of the 12 cells that can guide the evaluation of the areas of interest in a primary care system. The identification of characteristics of this conceptual framework and its subsequent application are important for a number of reasons. Specifically, this framework systematically organizes standardized data elements that are critical to monitoring and subsequently improving quality of care, guiding research, influencing policy, and developing nurse-sensitive patient outcomes.