Auditing. A method for evaluating quality of care

The nursing process is accepted as a major framework for practice; but its integration in the quality assurance process, in a format where the phases of the nursing process are examined in a sequential manner has not been reported. The authors have developed a nursing process audit tool that provides an organized approach for evaluating independent nursing functions based on the nursing process. Each step in the nursing process can be evaluated individually and as a whole. The tool can be used concurrently and/or retrospectively. This tool provides nursing administrators with pertinent data that can be used to improve nursing practice.