The Role of quality assurance strategies in the evaluation of New Zealand nursing services

Abstract

The topic of quality assurance in the delivery of health care is immense. The literature presents a great diversity of perspectives of both the rationale for assuring quality, and means by which this may be attained. Both health and quality assurance are complex issues. When the two concepts interact, these complexities compound. A comprehensive analysis of all the issues identified in the literature would have taken a far greater amount of time than that which was available. This analysis is confined to quality assurance as examined from a policy perspective, and explores the types of trade-offs that must occur when adopting quality assurance strategies for nursing services. Even after completion of this thesis it remains difficult to formulate concrete recommendations or firm proposals on which policy directives, strategies and initiatives may be undertaken. Options are identifies however, and in the final analysis it is the reader who must formulate his or her own direction.