What are disadvantages of the functional task-oriented model of nursing care delivery?

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oEfficiency during nursing shortagesNursing shortages may make appropriate nurse-to-patient ratiosrequired for the case method difficult to achieve. The casemethod is not an efficient model of care during nursing shortages.Team nursing is more efficient during a nursing shortage.CorrectoPrompt recognition of slight changes in the patientWhen a nurse gives total care to a patient in the case methodmodel of care, the nurse will notice subtle changes in the patientquickly.CorrectoA high level of trust between the nurse and patientIn the case method model of care, the nurse, patient, and familyhave a lot of interaction. This gives the nurse time to build arapport and create trust with the patient.Question 2 of 6What are disadvantages of the functional task-orientedmodel of nursing care delivery?CorrectoCritical patient changes may not be noticed quickly.A disadvantage of the functional model of nursing care is thatcritical patient changes may go unnoticed by the nurse. This isdue to fragmentation of care and the nurse caring for a largegroup of patients.

Modalities of Nursing Care

This refers to the manner in which nursing care is organized and provided. It depends on the philosophy of the organization, nurse staffing and client population.

Case Method/Total Patient Care

In case method, the nurse cares for one patient whom the nurse cares for exclusively. The Case Method evolved into what we now call private duty nursing. It was the first type of nursing care delivery system.

In Total Patient Care, the nurse is responsible for the total care of the patient during the nurse’s working shift. The RN is responsible for several patients.

Advantages:

• Consistency in carrying out the nursing care plan
• Patient needs are quickly met as high number of RN hours are spent on the patient
• Relationship based on trust is developed between the RN and the patient’s family

Disadvantage:

• It can be very costly

Functional Nursing

It is a task-oriented method wherein a particular nursing function is assigned to each staff member. The medication nurse, treatment nurse and bedside nurse are all products of this system. For efficiency, nursing was essentially divided into tasks, a model that proved very beneficial when staffing was poor. The key idea was for nurses to be assigned to tasks, not to patients.

Advantages:

• A very efficient way to delivery care.
• Could accomplish a lot of tasks in a small amount of time
• Staff members do only what they are capable of doing
• Least costly as fewer RNs are required

Disadvantages:

• Care of patients become fragmented and depersonalized
• Patients do not have one identifiable nurse
• Very narrow scope of practice for RNs
• Leads to patient and nurse dissatisfaction

Team Nursing

This is the most commonly used model and is still in use today. It was developed in the 1950’s in order to somewhat ameliorate the fragmentation that was inherent in the functional model. The goal of team nursing is for a team to work democratically. In the ideal team, an RN is assigned as a Team Leader for a group of patients. The Team Leader has a core of staff reporting to her, and together they work to disseminate the care activities. The team member possessing the skill needed by the individual patient is assigned to that patient, but the Team Leader still has accountability for all of the care. Team conferences occur in which the expertise of every staff member is used to plan the care.

Advantages:

• Each member’s capabilities are maximized so job satisfaction should be high
• Patients have one nurse (the Team Leader) with  immediate access to other health providers

Disadvantages:

• Requires a team spirit and commitment to succeed
• RN may be the Team Leader one day and a team member the next, thus continuity of patient care may suffer
• Care is still fragmented with only 8 or 12 hour accountability

Primary Nursing

The hallmark of this modality is that one nurse cares for one group of patients with a 24-hour accountability for planning their care. In other words, a Primary Nurse (PN) cares for her primary patients every time she works and for as long as the patient remains on her unit. An Associate Nurse cares for the patient in the PN’s absence and follows the PN’s individualized plan of care. This is a decentralized delivery model: more responsibility and authority is placed with each staff nurse.

Advantages:

• Increased satisfaction for patients and nurses
• More professional system: RN plans and communicates with all healthcare members. RNs are seen as more knowledgeable and responsible.
• RNs more satisfied because they continue to learn as as part of the in-depth care they are required to deliver to their patient

Disadvantage:

• Only confines a nurse’s talents to a limited number of patients, so other patients cannot benefit if the RN is competitive
• Can be intimidating for RNs who are less skilled and knowledgeable

Modular Nursing (District Nursing)

This is a modification of team and primary nursing. It is a geographical assignment of patient that encourages continuity of care by organizing a group of staff to work with a group of patients in the same locale.

Advantages:

• Useful when there are a few Rns
• RNs plan their care

Disadvantage:

• Paraprofessionals do technical aspects of nursing care

Photo Credits: www.nursesolutions.com

Modalities of Nursing Care

This refers to the manner in which nursing care is organized and provided. It depends on the philosophy of the organization, nurse staffing and client population.

• Case Method/Total Patient Care

?In case method, the nurse cares for one patient whom the nurse cares for exclusively. The Case Method evolved into what we now call private duty nursing. It was the first type of nursing care delivery system.

?In Total Patient Care, the nurse is responsible for the total care of the patient during the nurse’s working shift. The RN is responsible for several patients.

?Advantages:

·Consistency in carrying out the nursing care plan

·Patient needs are quickly met as high number of RN hours are spent on the patient

·Relationship based on trust is developed between the RN and the patient’s family

?Disadvantage:

·It can be very costly

• Functional Nursing

?It is a task-oriented method wherein a particular nursing function is assigned to each staff member. The medication nurse, treatment nurse and bedside nurse are all products of this system. For efficiency, nursing was essentially divided into tasks, a model that proved very beneficial when staffing was poor. The key idea was for nurses to be assigned to tasks, not to patients.

?Advantages:

·A very efficient way to delivery care.

·Could accomplish a lot of tasks in a small amount of time

·Staff members do only what they are capable of doing

·Least costly as fewer RNs are required

? Disadvantages:

·Care of patients become fragmented and depersonalized

·Patients do not have one identifiable nurse

·Very narrow scope of practice for RNs

· Leads to patient and nurse dissatisfaction

• Team Nursing

?This is the most commonly used model and is still in use today. It was developed in the 1950’s in order to somewhat ameliorate the fragmentation that was inherent in the functional model. The goal of team nursing is for a team to work democratically. In the ideal team, an RN is assigned as a Team Leader for a group of patients. The Team Leader has a core of staff reporting to her, and together they work to disseminate the care activities. The team member possessing the skill needed by the individual patient is assigned to that patient, but the Team Leader still has accountability for all of the care. Team conferences occur in which the expertise of every staff member is used to plan the care.

?Advantages:

·Each member’s capabilities are maximized so job satisfaction should be high

·Patients have one nurse (the Team Leader) withimmediate access to other health providers

?Disadvantages:

·Requires a team spirit and commitment to succeed

·RN may be the Team Leader one day and a team member the next, thus continuity of patient care may suffer

·Care is still fragmented with only 8 or 12 hour accountability

• Primary Nursing

?The hallmark of this modality is that one nurse cares for one group of patients with a 24-hour accountability for planning their care. In other words, a Primary Nurse (PN) cares for her primary patients every time she works and for as long as the patient remains on her unit. An Associate Nurse cares for the patient in the PN’s absence and follows the PN’s individualized plan of care. This is a decentralized delivery model: more responsibility and authority is placed with each staff nurse.

?Advantages:

·Increased satisfaction for patients and nurses

·More professional system: RN plans and communicates with all healthcare members. RNs are seen as more knowledgeable and responsible.

·RNs more satisfied because they continue to learn as as part of the in-depth care they are required to deliver to their patient

? Disadvantage:

·Only confines a nurse’s talents to a limited number of patients, so other patients cannot benefit if the RN is competitive

·Can be intimidating for RNs who are less skilled and knowledgeable

• Modular Nursing (District Nursing)

?This is a modification of team and primary nursing. It is a geographical assignment of patient that encourages continuity of care by organizing a group of staff to work with a group of patients in the same locale.

?Advantages:

· Useful when there are a few Rns

·RNs plan their care

?Disadvantage:

·Paraprofessionals do technical aspects of nursing care

Daisy Jane Antipuesto RN MN

Currently a Nursing Local Board Examination Reviewer. Subjects handled are Pediatric, Obstetric and Psychiatric Nursing. Previous work experiences include: Clinical instructor/lecturer, clinical coordinator (Level II), caregiver instructor/lecturer, NC2 examination reviewer and staff/clinic nurse. Areas of specialization: Emergency room, Orthopedic Ward and Delivery Room. Also an IELTS passer.

What Do You Think?

Which disadvantage is associated with the primary nursing model for implementing client care?

What are the disadvantages of nursing process?

What is functional nursing care delivery model?

Which one is disadvantage of functional nursing care delivery model?