Benchmarking in nursing helps identify performance gaps by comparing against:

• A. Individual patient outcomes only.
• B. Historical costs within the same facility only.
• C. Regulatory standards only.
• D. Other similar institutions.

Answer: (B)

Benchmarking in nursing is about measuring current performance against a stable reference to spot where gaps exist. Using historical costs within the same facility provides that stable baseline, making it possible to see how efficiency and cost control have changed over time without the confounding differences that come with comparing to other sites or to external standards. This internal comparison directly highlights where processes or resource use aren’t meeting past performance, guiding targeted improvement efforts. External comparisons (other institutions) and regulatory standards are valuable but introduce context differences that can obscure internal gaps if used alone. Focusing on the facility’s own historical data gives a clear, practical starting point for identifying and addressing performance gaps.