Using Nursing Peer Review for Quality Improvement and Professional Development with Focus on Standards of Professional Performance

Abstract

This article explains the pilot project and results of a peer review which, according to the data available, is the first such review carried out in the Croatian nursing practice. The goals of this project were to identify standards of professional performance which describe behaviour of competent professionals. Peer review is the evaluation of an individual's professional performance for relevant competency categories by using multiple sources of data. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with all nursing staff (N=16) in St. Catherine Hospital. This system of peer feedback is generally acceptable to the participants. The experience suggests that the approach enhances understanding of roles and responsibilities and is supportive to inter professional team development. The peer review had positive outcomes, particularly in the planning of future development of education and staff training, as well as in general professional development of the nurses and the nurse leader.