A review of nursing quality assurance.

This paper presents an overview of frameworks used in nursing quality assurance, an outline of the quality assurance movement in nursing, and its current concerns. It is argued that quality assurance activity appears to be propelled by market forces, regulation, coercion and professionalism. The concern with measurement places quality assurance activity within the quantitative paradigm. The problems associated with measurement are discussed and the writer presents qualitative research as a complementary approach to quality assurance and improving care.