Nursing dashboards - measuring quality

This publication contains information, advice and guidance to help members of the RCN. It is intended for use within the UK but readers are advised that practices may vary in each country and outside the UK. The information in this publication has been compiled from professional sources, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the RCN provides accurate and expert information and guidance, it is impossible to predict all the circumstances in which it may be used. Accordingly, to the extent permitted by law, the RCN shall not be liable to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by what is contained in or left out of this information and guidance. This publication may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by ways of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without the prior consent of the Publishers. This report summarises the key messages that emerged from the nursing dashboard summit held by the RCN on 3 June 2011. The objective of a clinical dashboard is to provide a realtime, or near realtime, measure of nursing quality. Delegates pointed out that the focus of clinical dashboards should be on patient-centred measures. The choice of indicators used to measure quality of care is vital and should be based on what is important to the health care service user/patient and nursing team. Otherwise there is a risk that dashboards could be used to measure what is convenient, rather than what is necessary. Delegates described the negative effect of data gathering when information systems are crude and where the information environment needs to be streamlined. Clinical dashboards should be seen as part of the solution, not another problem around information overload. The purpose of dashboards is to engage staff, empowering them to improve quality, not to contribute to a 'tick box' approach to the issue. Dashboards are not an end in themselves. They are best viewed as a means to: • promote BLOCKINappreciative BLOCKINinquiry • contribute BLOCKINto BLOCKINlearning BLOCKINand BLOCKINdevelopment • foster BLOCKINthe BLOCKINownership BLOCKINof BLOCKINtreatment BLOCKINand BLOCKINcare BLOCKINof patients • support BLOCKINlocal BLOCKINquality BLOCKINimprovement BLOCKINinitiatives • improve BLOCKINnursing BLOCKINknowledge. Feedback was received on how the RCN's Principles of Nursing Practice (see Appendix A) can be used to align and underpin …