Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Nursing-sensitive indicators: a concept analysis
Liza Heslop1, Sai Lu, Xiaoquan Xu
1College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Aim:
To report a concept analysis of nursing-sensitive indicators within the applied context of the acute care setting.
Background:
The concept of 'nursing sensitive indicators' is valuable to elaborate nursing care performance. The conceptual foundation, theoretical role, meaning, use and interpretation of the concept tend to differ. The elusiveness of the concept and the ambiguity of its attributes may have hindered research efforts to advance its application in practice.
Design:
Concept analysis.
Data Sources:
Using 'clinical indicators' or 'quality of nursing care' as subject headings and incorporating keyword combinations of 'acute care' and 'nurs*', CINAHL and MEDLINE with full text in EBSCOhost databases were searched for English language journal articles published between 2000-2012. Only primary research articles were selected.
Methods:
A hybrid approach was undertaken, incorporating traditional strategies as per Walker and Avant and a conceptual matrix based on Holzemer's Outcomes Model for Health Care Research.
Results:
The analysis revealed two main attributes of nursing-sensitive indicators. Structural attributes related to health service operation included: hours of nursing care per patient day, nurse staffing. Outcome attributes related to patient care included: the prevalence of pressure ulcer, falls and falls with injury, nosocomial selective infection and patient/family satisfaction with nursing care.
Conclusion:
This concept analysis may be used as a basis to advance understandings of the theoretical structures that underpin both research and practical application of quality dimensions of nursing care performance.
Related Concept Videos
Nursing Clinical Information System
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
Nursing Assessment
The nurse collects all aspects of the patient's health in the initial assessment, establishing priorities for ongoing focused assessments...
Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions
Guidelines For Measuring Vital Signs
Before taking a patient's vital signs, a nurse would consider and assess the patient's comfort level and ensure appropriate equipment is available.
Nursing Diagnosis
The nursing diagnosis focuses on evidence-based...
The Scientific Method in Nursing Process
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be...