Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Using Learning Outcome Measures to assess Doctoral Nursing Education
Published on: June 21, 2010
Audit and Feedback: An Evidence-Based Practice Literature Review of Nursing Report Cards
Madeleine Whalen1, Barbara Maliszewski2, Heather Gardner3
1Evidence-Based Practice Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Background:
As more hospitals transition to electronic health records (EHR) and rely on technology to inform practice, what is done with that information is increasingly important. Performance report cards for physicians and nurses are not new, yet there is little recent evidence on nurse-specific audit and feedback.
Aim:
The aim of the project was to conduct an evidence-based practice (EBP) review to answer the question, "Does implementing an individualized audit and feedback report tool for nurses improve compliance, adherence, and/or performance of nursing tasks?".
Methods:
Evidence was gathered from several databases. Reviewers read and appraised articles that answered the EBP question using the Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP Model. Data were then collated to synthesize and generate recommendations.
Results:
Of the initial 613 unique articles, eight (two research and six quality improvement) were included. Six articles demonstrated improvements while two did not. Articles analyzed nursing documentation (n = 3), tasks or skills (n = 2), and best practice compliance (n = 3). One manuscript utilized an EHR-generated report; all others were completed by hand. Overall, there was not consistent and compelling evidence to support individualized audit and feedback report tools in nursing. However, several themes emerged related to sustainability, timing of feedback, audit, and feedback in the context of quality improvement, and the methods of acquiring and distributing data.
Linking Evidence To Action:
The ubiquity and ease of the EHR make providing automated feedback to nurses tempting, yet it is not supported by the literature. More implementation science research is needed to explore audit and feedback reports in nursing. This article adds to the literature by highlighting a significant lack of consistent and compelling positive results from the well-established quality improvement strategy of audit and feedback in the nursing population. The absence of good data is as telling as its presence.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Nursing Evaluation
01:08Role of Communication in the Nursing Process III: Evaluation and Documentation
01:20Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning,...
01:30Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse I
01:11Purpose of Health Records I
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
01:20Introduction to Documentation and Reporting
Nursing documentation records essential information and details regarding a patient's care and treatment in written or electronic form. It is a critical aspect of nursing practice that involves documenting assessments, interventions, outcomes, and other relevant details about a patient's health status.
Documentation maps the patient's health journey by creating a comprehensive...