How Norway is improving nursing quality

The Norwegian Nurses Association (NNA) is the professional organization for 42,000 nurses in Norway accounting for over 90% of the country's professional nurses. In the NNA constitution Norwegian nurses have expressed their commitment to the provision of high quality services to the public through: 1) influencing development of health care so that services are geared to prevention and resolution of health problems of the population, 2) influencing societal conditions for the improvement of health and 3) promoting high ethical, professional standards among nurses. In fulfilling this commitment numerous activities have been initiated over the past decade in practice, leadership, education and research. In 1987 the NNA took the initiative to set up a special project that aims to develop a comprehensive programme of nursing quality improvement. This includes development and monitoring of standards at national and local levels. Below, why this programme is needed and a status report on development.