Developing an audit tool for primary nursing

• Despite the proliferation of research on primary nursing, most studies have investigated the effects of primary nursing on quality of care, job satisfaction and collegial relationships. • Few researchers have attempted to isolate the key dimensions of primary nursing in an observable and measurable form. • The purpose of this exploratory study was to devise an audit tool for primary nursing that builds on Mead's research and incorporates views of patients/clients, relatives, nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team. • Preliminary findings suggest that the audit is a useful indicator of the extent to which the crucial elements of primary nursing are present or absent in any clinical setting. • Furthermore it suggests that while many wards claim to practise primary nursing there is a considerable variation in the extent to which this is actually carried out.