title: Annual cross-sectional study of nurse-sensitive problems: how to keep a finger on the pulse.
abstract: A cross-sectional evaluation of nurse-sensitive problems in hospitalized patients is conducted once per year to monitor patient problems identified by nurses, whether nurses implement interventions to overcome the problems, and if the problems are solved. This article describes a systematic method of data collection and illustrates how the data can be used to improve the quality and documentation of the nursing care. The annual cross-sectional evaluation allows us to identify relevant target areas of future nursing interventions and research.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark (Mss Færch, Tewes, and Christensen and Dr Moons); Hillerød Hospital, the Capital Region of Denmark, Hillerød (Dr Overgaard); and Centre for Health Services and Nursing Research, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Dr Moons).
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Færch
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tewes
authors.forename: Dorthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.forename: Rie Friis
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moons
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires