Page 318 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

A d d e n d U M I v
comparative data reports to use for benchmarking, seeking out best
practices, quality improvement, and research.
The ICCD stores the nursing-sensitive process indicator, nurse car-
ing behaviors. Other process indicators, such as nurse manager caring
behaviors and nurse educator caring behaviors may be added. These
indicators of caring provide participating institutions with timely infor-
mation about the experience of care (from the patient, staff nurse, and
student points of view). Regularly assessing caring processes allows
clinicians, educators, and administrators to monitor improvements in
nursing practice, to link caring processes with nursing-sensitive out-
comes measures, to study ways that structural indicators such as staff-
ing patterns or nurse credentials affect caring processes and to exam-
ine trends over time.
The ICCD is the only comparative database of caring behaviors
performed by nurses. It has grown from an “idea” to a reality because
health care institutions’ that use caring theory as basis for new pro-
fessional practice models, and as a foundation for advancing nursing
practice, are actively seeking ways to research, connect and improve
their services.
To participate in the ICCD, health care institutions can contact Dr.
Joanne Duffy at 202-319-6466 or duffy@cua.edu and agree to join for
one year, participate in a one-hour training program (on-site), collect
data quarterly through a random selection process, and receive and
disseminate quarterly reports for practice improvement.
Institutions will receive quarterly reports of their data compared
to other institutions and trended over time. No unique identifiers will
be used so anonymity and confidentiality is assured. Opportunities to
provide feedback and assistance with publication/presentation ideas
will be provided.
The Watson Caring Science Institute,(WCSI) a new non-profit
foundation, created to serve and extend the scholarly activities of the
ICC, can serve as an additional funnel for communicating, expanding,
and disseminating this global caring database.

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