Outcomes of nursing practice were described by Ralph et al.2 as those that could be linked to specific structural or procedural nursing-sensitive interventions. They also suggest that measuring nurse-sensitive outcomes may lead to improving patient care. During the planning stages of Ralph's study, bowel and bladder elimination were ranked as the top two nurse-sensitive outcomes by experienced SCI nurse clinicians, followed by ambulation and tissue integrity. Nursing contributions to the rehabilitation process may be undervalued by patients, who, in a recent study, reported thinking that nurses provide emotional and physical support but have a lesser role in the rehabilitation process than other disciplines that provide ‘therapy’.3 Nevertheless, nurses were viewed as the first point of contact and as the clinicians who provide information most relevant to their patients' recovery.