Nursing-Sensitive Outcomes: State of the Science by D. M. Doran, ed. Toronto, Canada: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2003. 363 pages, softcover, $48.95.
The editor indicates in the Introduction that the purpose of the book is "to provide a critical review of the state of science" of nursing-sensitive outcomes. The book is intended to be a "comprehensive yet critical analysis" of theoretical and empirical work related to measuring the outcomes most reflective of nursing care. The intended audience includes researchers and graduate and undergraduate students concerned with outcomes and their measurement. The book contains 9 chapters, most dedicated to an in-depth analysis of a selected outcome. Each chapter is authored by various nurse faculty and researchers from Canada. The work was funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario. The outcomes chosen for the book were derived from extensive literature reviews and based on theoretical and empirical standards. Recommended outcomes were chosen by a Task Force of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
The first chapter provides an overview of nursing-sensitive outcomes and the related concept of professional accountability. The next 7 chapters provide analysis of one outcome each: functional status, self-care, symptom management, pain as a symptom outcome, patient safety outcomes, patient satisfaction, and nurses' job satisfaction. The final chapter is an overview of nursing minimum data sets relevant to collecting nursing-sensitive outcomes. The book contains numerous tables that summarize information about a particular outcome and the related measurement instruments for each. There are a few figures that display conceptual frameworks for thinking about various outcomes. Each chapter contains reference lists, with a detailed index given at the end of the book.
The content is excellent in detail and organization. The reader can easily scan topics both in the text of each chapter and in the numerous detailed tables. The background information given in Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive and well-reasoned rationale about the need for an in-depth analysis of nursing-sensitive outcomes. Introductory information also provides a clear description of the methods used in selecting each outcome and the methods used for conducting a comprehensive review of the scientific literature. One area for concern is the lack of up-to-date references in some topics. This gap is particularly evident in the content about minimum data sets and standardized nursing language. For example, the authors do not cite the most recent editions of books from the work of the Iowa Team who developed the Nursing Outcome Classification, even though this work is extremely relevant to the topic of outcomes. Reference lists at the end of each chapter often do not contain recent publications although they do contain substantial background and "classic" literature. The overall style of writing and information provided is well organized and substantive.
The book provides a valuable summary of selected outcome measures. It will be of particular use to researchers seeking a comprehensive review of particular outcome measures from both conceptual and methodological perspectives.
Sharon Williams Utz, PhD, RN
Associate Professor, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville