THE ROLE OF THE NURSE AUDITOR IN THE QUALITY OF CARE: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the importance of the nurse auditor in the quality of nursing care. The quality of healthcare involves providing safe, effective, efficient, and patient-centered care, making it essential to have qualified professionals committed to the continuous improvement of services. In this context, nursing audit is an important evaluation tool, as, through the analysis of medical records, it makes it possible to measure and assess the quality of care provided, contributing to the improvement of professional practice and patient safety. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PUBMED, LILACS, and BDENF databases, using the descriptors “Nursing Audit,” “Quality of Health Care,” and “Nursing Records,” including original articles published in Portuguese and English between 2020 and 2025. The results show that the nurse auditor plays an essential role in evaluating nursing care by identifying compliance and inconsistencies in records and care processes, contributing to the improvement of care quality, institutional cost control, and the strengthening of health service management. It is concluded that nursing audit represents a relevant strategy to enhance care quality, promote greater patient safety, and support the continuous improvement of healthcare processes.