Defining patient-perceived quality of nursing care

Many patient satisfaction instruments are not based on patient perceptions, theoretically limiting their validity. This qualitative study identified g ood nursing care from the patient's perspective, using a convenience sample of 199 hospitalized adult patients in a public hospital in South Central U nited States. Content analysis yielded five themes: providing for my needs, treating me pleasantly, caring about me, being competent, and providing pr ompt care. Similarities and differences were found between these themes and themes identified in other qualitative studies, as well as instruments, fo r which item generation was based upon qualitative patient data. Implicatio ns for providers, administrators, and researchers are discussed.