Practice-based data set for a nursing information system.

It has been argued that nursing practice components are not sufficiently clarified to develop specifications for a nursing data set within an NIS. The purpose of this paper was to examine this assumption. Conclusions were drawn that both philosophically and conceptually, the components of practice are clear. In addition, a sufficient taxonomy for the content and structure of a data set is available. A draft of 17 items, categories, definitions, and rationale for inclusion is presented. Validity and reliability of the specified item-categories is discussed. As in any profession, work on the precision of patient descriptors and therapeutic interventions is ongoing. This work is greatly enhanced if a data set is computerized and the content and organization is consistent with practice components. Large-scale studies of item-categories can further refine the structure and organization of a nursing data set.