Operational definition of the quality of nursing care at an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital

The purpose of this study is the development of valid standards and criteria of nursing care quality for intensive care units (ICUs) based on Donabedian's approach to quality access. Eighteen standards and 219 criteria have been formulated by ICU staff nurses at a school-hospital, according to a protocol. These standards/criteria have then been evaluated by 14 experts in ICU Nursing from 5 other hospitals by means of a written questionnaire. The results indicated a high acceptance thereof and only one criterion was rejected. This showed that staff nurses and the experts involved had similar concepts about quality of ICU practice. The developed operational definition may be a basis to quality access tool. Staff nurses participation in this process is recommended.