Ms. Valencia develops the standards to be followed. Among the following standards, which is considered as a structure standard?
A. The patients verbalized satisfaction with the nursing care received.
B. Rotation of duty will be done every four weeks for all patient care personnel.
C. All patients shall have their weights recorded.
D. Patients shall answer the evaluation form before discharge.
Correct Answer: B. Rotation of duty will be done every four weeks for all patient care personnel.
Structure standards include management systems, facilities, equipment, materials needed to deliver care to patients. Rotation of duty is a management system. A nursing care standard is a descriptive statement of desired quality against which to evaluate nursing care. It is a guideline. A guideline is a recommended path to safe-conduct, an aid to professional performance.
Option A: Standards give direction and provide guidelines for the performance of nursing staff. Standards provide a baseline for evaluating the quality of nursing care. Standards statement must be broad enough to apply to a wide variety of settings.
Option C: Standards must be understandable and stated in unambiguous terms. Standards may help to determine the degree to which standards of nursing care maintained and take necessary corrective action in time.
Option D: Standards may help to improve the basis for decision-making and devise an alternative system for delivering nursing care. Standards must be reviewed and revised periodically. Standards may be directed towards ideal (ie, optional) standards or may only specify the minimal care that must be attained (ie, minimum standard).