As the manager for your unit, what would be your choice of nursing care delivery models?Give at least three (3) advantages and three (3) disadvantages of the nursing care delivery model you have chosen.Please explain and support your response. Cite your sources – type references according to the APA Style Guide. Purchase the answer to view it
Title: Nursing Care Delivery Models: Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages
Introduction:
Nursing care delivery models play a crucial role in determining the quality of patient care outcomes and nursing workforce satisfaction. As a unit manager, choosing the most effective model is paramount to ensure optimal patient outcomes and efficient utilization of healthcare resources. This paper aims to evaluate and justify the choice of a nursing care delivery model while outlining three advantages and three disadvantages associated with it. The chosen model will be the Primary Nursing Care Model.
Primary Nursing Care Model:
The primary nursing care model is a patient-centered approach that assigns a single nurse as the primary caregiver responsible for the coordination and continuity of care for a specific group of patients. In this model, the assigned nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating patient care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. The primary nurse assumes responsibility for the patient’s overall care, from admission to discharge, and has the authority to make decisions regarding the patient’s plan of care.
Advantages of Primary Nursing Care Model:
1. Enhanced Continuity of Care: One significant advantage of the Primary Nursing Care Model is the continuity of care it provides. With a designated primary nurse, patients develop a more personalized and therapeutic relationship with their caregiver, leading to better trust and improved communication. Knowing a patient’s medical history, individual preferences, and unique needs allows the primary nurse to deliver holistic and comprehensive care, resulting in improved patient outcomes (Scott et al., 2019).
2. Improved Patient Satisfaction: By fostering a consistent and trusting relationship with a primary nurse, patient satisfaction levels are likely to increase. The continuity and familiarity offered by the primary nurse build a sense of security and comfort for patients, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed promptly. This personalized approach contributes to increased patient satisfaction, as they feel more valued and engaged in their own care (Heller et al., 2018).
3. Enhanced Nursing Autonomy: The Primary Nursing Care Model grants nurses increased autonomy and accountability. By delegating responsibility for a specific group of patients’ care, the model empowers nurses to make decisions independently, resulting in improved job satisfaction and increased retention rates. With greater autonomy, primary nurses can individualize care plans, address patient needs promptly, and advocate for their patients effectively (McGillis Hall et al., 2018).
Disadvantages of Primary Nursing Care Model:
1. Staffing Challenges: Implementing the Primary Nursing Care Model can pose staffing challenges, as it requires an adequate number of skilled and experienced nurses to act as primary caregivers. The model demands a higher nurse-to-patient ratio to ensure sufficient coverage, which may be challenging in environments with limited resources or during periods of increased patient acuity. Maintaining an appropriate staffing ratio while considering the variability of patient needs can be a significant drawback of this model (Heller et al., 2018).
2. Communication Hurdles: Communication challenges may arise with the Primary Nursing Care Model due to the need for effective handovers and coordination among multiple primary nurses. Ensuring seamless information exchange and collaboration between primary nurses can be daunting, particularly in busy clinical settings. Adequate mechanisms for transferring patient information amongst primary nurses must be in place to prevent miscommunication and ensure the continuity of care (DiCenso et al., 2015).
3. Cost Implications: The implementation of the Primary Nursing Care Model can have financial implications for healthcare organizations. Maintaining a higher nurse-to-patient ratio required for this model may incur additional costs associated with hiring and retaining a sufficient number of skilled nurses. Furthermore, investing in ongoing education and training to enhance nurses’ expertise and proficiency in a specific area of practice may also contribute to the financial burden (Montelongo & Hader, 2017).
Conclusion:
The Primary Nursing Care Model offers distinct advantages such as enhanced continuity of care, improved patient satisfaction, and increased nursing autonomy. However, it has disadvantages including staffing challenges, communication hurdles, and cost implications. Recognizing these factors, unit managers should carefully consider the context and resources available in their healthcare setting before implementing the Primary Nursing Care Model or any other nursing care delivery model. By evaluating both the advantages and disadvantages comprehensively, unit managers can make informed decisions that optimize patient outcomes and nursing workforce satisfaction.