title: Outcomes research: contemporary issues and historical significance for nurse practitioners.
abstract: Outcomes research is not new to the discipline of nursing. However, the driving forces of today's health care environment are resulting in increased emphasis on the study of outcomes. This article presents an overview of the scope of outcomes research, including a historical perspective and contemporary issues. Outcomes research provides an opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of nurse practitioner practice.
authors.affiliation: Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Nursing Family Health, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moores
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Breslin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration