When and how to evaluate interrater reliability of patient assessment tools.

摘要

Critical care nurses select and use assessment tools* in their practice. Many of :hese tools are aimed at assessing symptoms, conditions, or risks on the basis of the evaluation made by the nurses or other clinicians on the health care team. For instance, the assessment of pain in nonverbal patients, depth of sedation, and screening for delirium are common in critical care settings. To achieve specific goals and provide patients with adequate care and treatment, how do critical care nurses know whether a tool is reliable and valid?