Evaluation of the effect of a Nursing System Framework on Nurse Sensitive Indicators, mortality and readmission in an NHS Trust.

Unlabelled: In 2018, an NHS Trust (UK) implemented an innovative Nursing System Framework (NSF). The NSF formalized a two-year strategy, which provided teams with clear aims and measurable objectives to deliver care. Failures of coordination of nursing services are well-recognized threats to the quality, safety and sustainability of care provision.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of introducing a NSF in an NHS Trust, using nursing sensitive indicators and pre-selected mortality, data outcome measures.

Design: A before and after implementation, observational study.

Methods: 105,437 admissions were extracted at an admission record level. Data was extracted from 1st September 2018 through to the 31st August 2019.

Results: Using SQUIRE guidelines to report the study, insufficient evidence was found to reject a null hypothesis with a chi-squared test of association between in-hospital death and the NSF intervention period, with a p-value of .091. However, trends were seen in the data, which suggested a positive association.

Conclusion: The NSF is a complex intervention, which provides direction for improvements but requires further research to understand the benefits for nurses, Midwives, Health Visitors and patients.