Abstract
Given the implications of value-based reimbursement, nurse leaders must thoughtfully assimilate an extraordinary amount of quality, safety, and patient experience data to effectively drive behavioral change. This article proposes Swanson Caring Theory (SCT) as context for Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) improvement strategies. The diagnostic model described herein is not intended to encompass the full scope of nursing care, but rather to help nurse leaders interpret HCAHPS results in terms of the SCT attributes of compassion, competence, and patient well-being.