Evaluation of Health Care Quality in Advanced Practice Nursing

Named a 2013 Doody's Core Title!

This is a wonderful resource that fills a true gap in the literature. This is a topic that needs more exposure and more emphasis in the field of advanced practice nursing. The value of evaluation in healthcare quality will be seen in the outcomes of healthcare improvements." Score: 100, 5 Stars--Doody's Medical Reviews

High-level evaluation skills reflecting national standards and benchmarks are becoming increasingly important in our changing health care climate. This is the only nursing textbook to lay the foundation for APNs to achieve the highest possible competency in conducting systematic and in-depth evaluations of all aspects of health care. Comprehensive in scope, it distills current best practice information from numerous sources to create a thorough and reliable resource for APN and DNP graduates.

The text addresses both the theoretical basis of evaluation and its application as an integral part of contemporary practice. It provides an overview of evaluation science and critically examines the characteristics, sources, and quality of the nature of evidence. Several frameworks are described to provide the reader with different evaluation models, including those of economic evaluation. The text covers in detail the evaluation of organizations, systems, and standards for practice, including information systems and patient care technology, the redesign of health care in accordance with patient-family centered models, and the challenges of the current trend toward electronic medical records. Also addressed is the evaluation of populations and health care teams, including characteristics, risk factors, and determinants, as well as the emphasis on interdisciplinary collaborative health teams. Additionally, the text covers translating outcomes from evaluation into health care policy, and opportunities for advocacy and leadership among APNs.

Joanne V. Hickey, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCCM, holds the Patricia L. Starck/PARTNERS Professorship in Nursing and the Coordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Nursing.

Christine A. Brosnan, DrPH, RN, recently retired as an associate professor from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Nursing, where in addition to teaching and clinical research, she held a number of administrative positions, including Track Director for the MSN in Education Program, Assistant Dean for Professional Development, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.