[The importance of using quality indicators in nursing care].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the opinion of hospital nurses on the use of quality indicators for nursing care.


METHODS
Research based on the qualitative approach, conducted with 41 nurses from two charity hospitals in Minas Gerais, from September to October 2013. Interviews with a semi-structured script were used to collect data. The empirical data were organized by means of content analysis.


RESULTS
Indicators are important for assessing the provided care, for improving the quality of care, and for defining strategies to achieve goals.


CONCLUSIONS
The difficulties encountered when using these indicators revealed the following constituent elements: lack of time, inadequate number of professionals and lack of knowledge on the subject. It was concluded that nurses understand that indicators are instruments that enable evaluations and improvements, but their understanding of how to use these instruments is incomplete and fragmented.
Sofia Feldman Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Thaizy Valânia Lopes
TV
Silveira
Department of Medicine and Nursing, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Pedro Paulo do
PP
Prado Júnior
DEM, UFV, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Andréia Guerra
AG
Siman
DEM, UFV, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Marilane de Oliveira Fani
Mde O
Amaro
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D002608:Charities; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064876:Safety-net Providers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult