Quality care-metrics in nursing and midwifery
Nursing and midwifery quality care-metrics (QCM) provide an indication of the quality of the fundamental of nursing and midwifery care. QCM supported by the ONMSD, enable quality improvement and accountability of care.
Watch the QCM animation on Youtube to learn more
The QCM measures are:
- sensitive to the influence of nurses and midwives
- appropriate for all care settings
- aligned to evidence-based standards
- agreed through national consensus
QCM provide the framework to identify gaps in care delivery, enabling action planning for quality improvement and provide a mechanism by which care providers can be accountable for the quality of their care delivery. Test Your Care HSE, a software application available to HSE and HSE-funded settings provides the standardised platform to measure, monitor and track the fundamentals of nursing and midwifery clinical care processes.
Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care-Metrics (2018) consist of a core suite of quality indicators across seven care groups. Figure 1 demonstrates the current metrics which are available for measurement and monitoring
Figure 1 Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics 2018
The QCM process is cyclical as outlined in Figure 2
Benefits of QCM
Quality care-metrics provide a measuring system that:
- is specific to the measurement of nursing and midwifery care processes in individual care areas
- monitors and assesses performance against evidenced-based standards
- provides real-time reports and a standardised system to track and benchmark the quality of care
- quantifies trends and characteristics
- highlights exceptional care and areas of risk which require immediate attention
- enables targeted action planning for improvement
- offers direction on educational needs for healthcare staff
- promotes staff engagement and accountability for the quality of care
National guidelines for nursing and midwifery QCM
A new suite of national guidelines are now available to support services with the implementation of the 2018 Nursing and Midwifery QCM:
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Acute Care 2018
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Mental Health Services 2018
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Midwifery Services 2018
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Public Health Nursing Services 2018
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Children’s Services 2018
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Older Person Services 2018
- National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Intellectual Disability Services 2018
Summary Guidelines
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Acute Care 2018 (PDF)
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Mental Health Services 2018 (PDF)
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Midwifery Services 2018 (PDF)
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Public Health Nursing Services 2018 (PDF)
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Children’s Services 2018 (PDF)
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Older Person Services 2018 (PDF)
- National Summary Guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care Metrics Data Measurement in Intellectual Disability Services 2018 (PDF)
QCM readiness and capacity checklist
If a nursing or midwifery service has interest in implementing QCM, this service can self-assess their organisation in relation to the key factors on how ready they are to begin the implementation process using the Readiness & Capacity Checklist.
QCM readiness and capacity checklist (PDF)
QCM immediate risk/safety form
The QCM immediate risk/safety form is used to highlight an issue identified by the data collector while undertaking QCM collection that may need to be addressed immediately by the clinical nurse/midwife manager
QCM Hub on HSELanD
The QCM hub is an online resource that provides more detail and learning resources on QCM for nurses and midwives.
Nursing and Midwifery Hub: HSE LanD
QCM Research reports
A national research study encompassing both academic literature and input from front line nurses and midwives was completed in 2018.
This research identified the important dimensions of nursing and midwifery care that should be measured, reflecting on the processes by which we provide care, and the values underpinning practice.
This research resulted in this suite of 7 QCM reports across these areas:
- Acute care (PDF)
- Older person (PDF)
- Mental health (PDF)
- Intellectual disability (PDF)
- Midwifery (PDF)
- Children’s nursing (PDF)
- Public health (PDF)
Contact the QCM team
Ms Michelle Donnelly – QCM Governance Lead, Chair of National QCM Project Officers Group
An Clochar Primary Care Centre,
Ballyshannon Health Campus,
Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Phone:071 982 2108
Email:Michelle.donnelly1@hse.ie
NMPDU project leads
To implement QCM in your service, contact the QCM lead in your local NMPDU:
NMPDU Dublin North
Maria Flaherty
Phone: 086 7810195
NMPDU Dublin South, Kildare and Wicklow
Karina O’Sullivan
Phone: 01 6201735 or 087 2055142
NMPDU North East
Ann Lister
Phone: 087 9257710
NMPDU South East
Leonie Finnegan
Phone: 056 778 5639 or 087 682 9423
NMPDU Midlands
Mary O’Connor
Phone: 087 357 8940
NMPDU Cork/Kerry
Sinead Kenneally
Phone: 021 4921238 or 086 7871011
NMPDU West/Midwest
Annette Connolly
Phone: 061 464 017 or 086 047 0863
NMPDU North West
Deirdre Keown
Phone: 071 982 2106 / 087 060 7916