Nursing-sensitive indicators (NSIs) are measures used to assess aspects of healthcare quality that are influenced by nursing care. They are used to examine the quality and outcomes of nursing care and may include measures of nursing structures, processes, or patient outcomes. Examples of indicators studied in nursing research include patient falls, pressure injuries, healthcare-associated infections, medication errors, mortality, failure to rescue, length of stay, and patient satisfaction. The indicators have been examined in relation to factors such as nurse staffing, skill mix, and the organization of nursing care. The selection and definition of nursing-sensitive indicators vary between studies and measurement systems. Because patient outcomes can also be affected by factors other than nursing care, the interpretation of individual indicators requires consideration of the clinical and organizational context.
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