The Challenge: Current hospital-based core measures are largely tied to medical interventions and "harm metrics," such as patient falls, infections, and pressure injuries. These measures fail to capture the comprehensive impact of acute and critical care nurses, who constitute nearly two-thirds of the nation's nursing workforce. Currently, nursing’s unique contribution is inadequately reflected in policy-shaping data, leading to a practice environment where nursing’s value—and its return on investment (ROI)—remains hidden from policy decision-makers and the public.

The Solution: Outcome measures directly linked to the nine domains of nursing practice outlined in the Blueprint for Change. The measures will move beyond "presence-by-absence" harm metrics to reflect the totality of nursing practice, focusing on what patients and families identify as important, such as feeling safe, cared-for, and ready for self-care.