Patient outcomes used by advanced practice psychiatric nurses to evaluate effectiveness of practice

Health care in the 1990s requires Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (APPNs), like other health care providers, to identify and evaluate the outcomes of their practices. Many APPNs report that they are not currently engaging in outcome evaluation, and many report that they would like more resources on outcome measurement. This study identifies outcome evaluations currently in use, through an analysis of the responses of 364 Certified Clinical Nurse Specialists in a survey conducted by the Society for Education and Research in Psychiatric Nursing in 1994–1995. Specific tools that APPNs report using to assess outcomes are also identified and referenced.