This paper is an abridged version of a knowledge synthesis undertaken to inform the proceedings of a collaborative forum of nurse leaders convened under the auspices of Health Canada, the Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses, the Canadian Nurses Association and Canada Health Infoway for the purpose of discussing the development of a nursing report card for Canada. The synthesis summarized the state of the science in the measurement of nursing-sensitive outcomes and the utilization of nursing report cards - information that informed forum participants' dialogue and planning. This condensed version of the synthesis focuses on initiatives related to outcomes and performance monitoring in nursing, including specific indicators and reporting systems and the development, implementation and utilization of nursing report cards.