title: A magnet nursing service approach to nursing's role in quality improvement.
abstract: The heightened focus on quality and the rise of health care consumerism are manifestations of numerous interrelated dynamics, especially including the aging of the "baby boomers" and greater prevalence of chronic conditions, the explosion of biomedical scientific knowledge and technology, changes in prevailing methods of health care financing, a recent prolonged period of economic prosperity, widespread concerns about patient safety, return of disproportionate health care cost, and the democratization of medical knowledge consequent to widespread use of the Internet. Quality improvement in nursing was first introduced by Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War. Today, nursing quality continues to look at process, but has evolved to an emphasis on patient care outcomes. This article discusses nursing quality structure, processes, and outcomes at a large, teaching, tertiary medical center in Los Angeles, California. The medical center is one of two designated magnet nursing services in California. Nursing's role in achieving clinical and service quality for patients, communities, and staff are essential characteristics of magnet-designated nursing service organizations.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Health System, 8700 Beverly Boulevara, Room 2033, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Linda Burnes
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodenough
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000575:American Nurses' Association; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D015141:Los Angeles; D017146:Models, Organizational; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000592:standards; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000592:standards; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data