title: A measured response.
abstract: In this issue of Nursing Older People we take a look at several hot topics that have implications for the care of older people. In the current climate of financial constraint, and publication of negative reports such as the independent inquiry into care provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (see below and page 5 ), it is vital that nurses demonstrate the outcomes and value of what they do and ensure that measures of this are appropriately identified. The development of nursing metrics is therefore a process that older people's nurses need to become involved in. On page 11 Peter Griffiths offers some insightful thoughts and caveats on this process.