Unit-based quality assurance: a necessary component of ET nursing practice

A unit-based quality assurance tool has been developed to facilitate the monitoring of nursing care given to patients with ostomies. The tool consists of 23 clinical indicators that measure structure, process, and outcome issues specific to the patient with a fecal or a urinary diversion. Clinical indicators were derived from the WOCN's Standards of Care for Patient with Colostomy, Ileostomy, and Urinary Diversion. In addition, the tool was reviewed for content validity by ET nurses not involved in the original tool development. The data are retrieved through patient observation, patient interview, record review, nurse interview, nurse observation, and check on equipment availability. Results are reflective of care given to patients by staff nurses and nursing assistants, as well as by ET nurses. Current limitations include the fact that the tool has not been tested for transportability for use in other institutions.