A model for testing the relationship of nursing care and patient outcomes

Measuring and managing the quality of nursing care are issues of universal concern to nursing leaders around the world. In Taiwan, a National Health Insurance system was recently implemented which has resulted in increasing cost pressure and competition for resources. In order to compete for scarce resources, nursing leaders can demonstrate the importance of nursing in the delivery of high-quality and cost-effective care from an absolute and patient perspective. In this article, the relationship between and among structure, process, and outcome variables is explored with respect to patient perceptions of care and patient satisfaction. Process variables, patient-perceived continuity and quality of care, positively influenced patient comfort and patient satisfaction. Not surprisingly, higher coordination of care resulted in lower length of stay.