This document discusses cost effectiveness and efficiency in nursing services. It defines key terms like cost, direct and indirect nursing costs, cost effectiveness, cost efficiency, and cost containment. It outlines the levels of cost hierarchy and stages of cost effectiveness/containment. Methods to measure and improve cost efficiency in nursing include costing out nursing services using per diem rates, diagnostic related groups, time/motion studies, and patient classification systems. The overall goal is to contain costs while maintaining quality of care.