Quality indicators: tools for the management of best practices in Health.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze how nurses recognize and use quality indicators, aimed at contributing to the management of best practices in Health. METHOD: Case study with a qualitative approach, conducted with twelve nurses from a hospital in southern Brazil from March to May 2016. For data collection, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used. Data were subjected to content analysis, in the thematic modality. RESULTS: The data showed that quality indicators are regarded as a tool for measuring health care outcomes, promoting the improvement of continuous care, assisting in the clinical decision-making and being present in discussions with the nursing team, in addition to contributing to the management of best practices in Health. FINAL CONSIDERATION Quality indicator may support improvements in health services and in the nursing work, strengthening health policies.