Use of a nursing intensity system as a measure of patient function

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a nursing intensity system could be used as a valid and reliable measure of patient function (ability to perform activities of daily living). Eighty seven patients on the medical service were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. Functional status assessment was obtained by the Katz Index and compared with functional status data obtained from the nursing intensity system. Correlation between the two measures was high (r = .71, p < .001). The nursing intensity system was also found to have high internal consistency (alpha = .85). It was concluded that such systems have the potential to provide useful measures of function.