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The article offers information on the utilization of evidence-based standards in measuring nurse staffing and performance. It is noted that to promote quality patient outcomes resourcefully, performing staffing decisions based in evidence is vital. A model for evidence-based staffing is also presented which entails that policies and practices of an organization are influenced by research. However, it is stated that the data available to effectively allocate nurse resources is only limited.

The article discusses the quality issues in health care research and practice. It mentions that work quality is performed by both practitioner-researchers and efficiency consultants from many disciplines. Researchers define health care quality as the degree to which health services increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge. They also mentions that most adverse events are preventable, particularly those due to error or negligence.

Focuses on the impact of the United States Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations on the development of performance improvement. Comparison of performance improvement and health care services standards; Importance of program credibility; Factors of credibility.

The article focuses on the treatment of cancer pain, where major advances have created a challenge to establish standards of care and appropriate indications for use. The challenge is to provide optimum use of treatment options for pain relief with minimal harm and cost. New approaches to pain treatment include patient-controlled analgesia devices, intraspinal oploid infusions, and a number of other surgical and anesthetic techniques which have increased the options available to clinicians when treating cancer pain.

In an attempt to increase efficiency and reduce costs in the provision of nursing care, many hospitals across the United States have introduced new models of care delivery. In a survey of hospitals conducted by the American Hospital Association, 97% of the institutions surveyed reported that they had introduced some type of nurse-extender program. The article analyzes the effects of restructuring nursing care by introducing nurses' aides to a primarily registered nurse (RN) staff, increasing the RN to patient ratios, and initiating an automated IV drug administration system.

Dramatic changes in the health care delivery system have produced a highly competitive environment for home health agencies. This study examined the characteristics perceived to be present in successful home health agencies. The results reflect both similarities and differences from studies of successful hospitals and businesses. The overwhelming majority of respondents identified a reputation for quality patient care as the most important indicator of a successful agency. This is certainly consistent with today's customer oriented, market-driven environment, where a quality product is highly prized.

The article describes the development and evaluation of a task-oriented, program for staff nurses designed to nurses interpersonal and problem solving skills. Nursing administrators throughout the country are seeking alternative methods for meeting the critical demand for nursing services. The ability to provide these services is being challenged by cost containment, sophisticated technology and severely limited professional resources. It is within this complex environment that nurse administrators are challenged to create supportive work conditions to enable them to provide professional nursing care.

The article focuses on issues concerning the performance budget. Performance budget is a budget for various activities of a cost center or organization. Rather than focusing on the objects of spending, such as the costs for salaries, supplies or equipment, a performance budget is primarily concerned with activities of the organizational unit. Specific objectives for each activity are stated in a performance budget and specific financial resources are associated with each activity. Performance budgeting has advantage over both traditional budgeting and traditional performance evaluation.

The article focuses on the Fifth Annual Conference on the topic "Greater Resourcefulness with Fewer Resources: The Challenge for Nurse Executives," organized by the journal "Nursing Economic$," to be held at J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington D.C. in October 1988. Nancy K. Austin, coauthor of the book "A Passion for Excellence: The Leadership Difference," will start off the conference with a motivational keynote speech addressing excellence for executives. The conference will help participants to identify creative ways of delivering patient care within an environment of shrinking resources and other venues in health care.

The article presents a model describing the role of work and organizational stress upon the qualitative performance and productivity of nursing employees. In spite of individual differences, qualitative performance are largely dependent on evaluative perceptions of the job and work environment. Specifically, negative perceptions of the job and work environment create stress for the individual, which lowers performance, both directly and indirectly, through the burnout dimensions. Positive perceptions, in contrast, encourage effort, commitment, support and feelings of worthwhile accomplishment.

The article reports on the additional methods to support the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards within the health care organizations through the use of a freely available Internet resource in the U.S. National standards have been developed suggesting methods for meeting the need and systems changes are either mandated or recommended within health care delivery organizations to assure movement toward the goal of effective patient-provider communication.

The article focuses on a comparative study to find out whether nurses who work 12-hour shifts are at greater risk for error due to increased fatigue and compromised critical thinking ability. This study of 102 critical care nurses indicates no difference between nurses working 8-hour or 12-hour shifts in terms of their levels of fatigue or performance on a critical thinking test. While all nurses are more fatigued at the end of their shifts than at the beginning, their critical thinking abilities tend to be higher at the end of their shifts.

The article focuses on the significance of proper leadership and management among health care leaders. According to the author, the common faults that lead to leadership failure include excessive pride, failure to listen to people who are warning of mistakes being made, failing to get feedback about the program's outcome and failure to plan for problems. It is stated that successful leadership depends on the proper negotiation with the employees in the organization.

Focuses on `The Balanced Scorecard,' a concept developed by R.S. Kaplan and D.P. Norton for measuring employee performance. Important areas emanating from organizational strategy; Importance of nursing to achieving organizational effectiveness; Benefits of developing a balanced scorecard.

The 1984 edition of the Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (AMH) contains completely revised standards for Governing Body, and Management and Administrative Services, and for the monitoring and evaluation of the quality and appropriateness of patient care in clinical support services. In addition, the Manual now contains pertinent standards for hospitals that provide psychiatric and substance abuse services. The 1984 AMH also features completely revised general administrative policies and procedures that govern accreditation surveys.