The patient's perspective on nursing quality: developing a framework for evaluation

This article describes a new framework for the evaluation of the quality of nursing care. The preliminary framework developed on the basis of nurse data was tested with Finnish surgical patients (n = 132). The model was then restructured around four dimensions or levels: actor, activities, aims and preconditions for quality nursing care. For the patients it is important that the actor or nurse possesses technical, task-oriented skills. Activities are divided into two categories: human and task-oriented. The patients emphasize the importance of educational and technical activities as well as respecting and caring. The most important determinants of nursing activity are trustworthiness and adherence to basic principles. A central precondition for quality nursing, according to patients, is the training and education of nurses and access to adequate resources. The framework developed has some elements in common with the previous studies.