An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among the patient characteristic ratings for the patient profiles. An identical two-factor solution was produced for the neonatal, pediatric, and adult patient profile sets: factor 1 consisted of the intrinsic characteristics of stability, complexity, vulnerability, predictability, and resiliency; factor 2 consisted of the extrinsic characteristics of participation in decision-making, participation in care, and resource availability. These results are similar to those obtained for the patient characteristic composite scores, and further support the notion of two types of patient characteristics, the latter type highlighting an environmental, or context, dimension.

Summary
Three sets of research questions were developed and investigated. In each case, the results confirmed the expectation inherent in the Synergy Model.

1. The patient characteristics comprehensively describe the functioning (and needs) of patients seen by nurses who globally identify their patients as ambulatory, acute care, and critical care. Regardless of the acuity level, some patients function at each scale point on each of the 5-point continua for the eight patient characteristics. Moreover, the patient characteristics appear to be universal—they apply equally well to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.
2. The nurse characteristics comprehensively describe the competency areas of nurses who provide direct care to ambulatory, acute care, and critical care patients. Nurses working with patients at extreme ends of the patient continua identify themselves as having somewhat different levels of competency.
3. The level of patients’ needs and the level of nurses’ competencies are related; when there is consistency between the patient characteristics and the nurse characteristics, optimal outcomes may result. Respondents determined that nurses with higher levels of competency were required to provide direct care to patients described as more compromised, and more critically ill.

AUTHOR BIOS:
Patricia M. Muenzen, MA
Since coming to PES in 1992, Patricia M. Muenzen has directed national studies of numerous professions, including critical care nursing, perianesthesia nursing, and occupational therapy. Ms. Muenzen currently serves on the Research Committee of the American Board of Nursing Specialties.

Sandra Greenberg, PhD
Sandra Greenberg conducts studies of professions and evaluates credentialing programs to enhance the strategic direction of sponsoring agencies. In the past, she served on the Job Analysis Monitoring Panel for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

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