Building nursing's minimum data set: the results of a pilot study.

Nursing's viability in health care data bases is nonexistent. If nursing is to receive acknowledgment and reimbursement for the services provided to patients, nursing data elements must be visible in national health care databases. To identify nursing data elements, this pilot project tested three instruments that could be used to identify nursing diagnoses commonly used in the peri-operative and peri-procedural care of patients. The results of the pilot project survey, the instrument of choice, and nursing diagnoses used during the pre, intra, and postoperative/procedural experience are described.