Keywords

nursing quality, pressure ulcer, reliability

 

Authors

  1. Hart, Sara PhD, RN
  2. Bergquist, Sandra PhD, RN, CWCN
  3. Gajewski, Byron PhD
  4. Dunton, Nancy PhD

Abstract

A criterion-referenced Web-based test was designed and administered to 256 individuals at 48 randomly sampled National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) member hospitals to determine the reliability of the NDNQI pressure ulcer indicator. Overall [kappa] values for pressure ulcer identification, staging, and sourcing indicate moderate to near perfect reliability. Findings suggest that nurses can accurately differentiate pressure ulcers from other ulcerous wounds in Web-based photographs, reliably stage pressure ulcers, and reliably identify community versus nosocomial pressure ulcers.