School nursing sensitive indicators: The next steps

Collecting data regarding nurse sensitive indicators have led to improved safety and quality care in the hospitals. With increased emphasis on accountability it is important to identify outcomes that are school nurse sensitive. Nursing-sensitive indicators identify structures of care & care processes, both of which influence care outcomes. This presentation will discuss the results of a national study recently conducted to identify school nurse sensitive outcomes as well as to obtain buy in from practicing school nurses regarding the indicators. Over 57 potential outcomes have been identified by literature and focus groups. This number needed to be narrowed to key indicators. A mix-method Delphi study was then performed. Several rounds by different key stakeholder groups were used to narrow and identify key school nursing indicators. First, a national sample of practicing school nurses were surveyed to rank the indicators in regards to sensitivity to school nursing practice, feasibility in collecting the data, and importance to their practice setting. Scores were averaged to identify key indicators. Next, public health nurse experts, educators, and quality experts were polled to provide insight into indicators from their perspective. Finally, the literature was reviewed for how often indicators were identified. All of this information was brought together and reviewed by an expert school nurse research panel, who used a Delphi approach to narrow the number of indicators. The presentation will present the results of study as well next present next steps in how to collect data for these indicators.