A theoretical model for nursing systems outcomes research

Nursing research on patient and administrative outcomes has typically examined the relationships between selected structural characteristics and outcomes, without taking into account the organization's context. In contrast, health services research has focused on the relationships between the organization's context and outcomes, most often mortality, without taking into account structural characteristics. Although widely used, both approaches develop fragmented knowledge. This article describes a comprehensive theoretical model that takes into account the relationships among the organization's context, its structure, and both patient and nursing administrative outcomes.