Functional / Team Nursing

EMTPTORN · Feb 16, 2003

Semstr,

The way you describe functional nursing does not sound very appealing to me either... I don't want to set on the phone all day, I would rather do those real nursing tasks......

The scenarios I brought up on my previous post, am I way off base on those scenarios?

RNanne · Feb 17, 2003

Emptorn Yes, on the ward would be about 20 to 30 patients and that is about what we handled. The personal care was incredible. The aides had from 5 to 6 patients apiece. And they were well trained. Yes, functional nursing was task oriented. The care was not fragmented as far as my experience went. Since only one person was in charge of a task, that task was done thoroughly and uninterrupted. There was a routine to the day. Routine was taught in nursing school. Any nurse could go to any hospital and work right away without orientation because all hospitals worked the same with the same routines. Many nursing personnel saw each of the patients. You were not alone with 7 patients like you are now. Although it was a different time and like I said, would not work now in hospital. No the scenario that you described in the ER is not functional nursing. There was no ICU. The patients who were very ill, hired "private" duty nurses. Which was one on one and was paid for by the patient or their family. Functional nursing is still used in LTC. Since it was task oriented, the job was well defined and you knew what you had to do for the day. The stress was low. But we don't nurse like that anymore. It just wouldn't work. As far as the lab etc. They served the nursing staff and were not part of the picture. Hope that answers some of your questions.:)

EMTPTORN · Feb 17, 2003

RNanne,

The scenario in the E.R. would that be collaborative, or does it not follow an nursing model? Am glad you pointed that out...

Any nurse going to any hospital and working because it was all the same... WOW!! That would be something....definitly not the way things are now today. This situation, was it in America or Europe?

Happy Presidents Day,

EMTPTORN

RNanne · Feb 17, 2003

Emptorn

It was here in the USA. I don't think that the scenario in the ER would be a nursing model. Maybe, but if it did it would be team nursing but not really. In a nursing model, the auxillary staff such as lab, respiratory etc aren't factored in. A nursing model tells how nursing care is to be delivered by nurses. The first job that I ever had was Peds at night. I got the job in the afternoon and went to work independently that very night. No orientation, since the routine for delivering nursing care was standard to all.:)

mattsmom81 · Feb 18, 2003

I see some functional nursing in LTC centers in my area...one nurse (or med aide) does meds, one treatments, one does care plans, one charts/charge duties, etc. Sometimes the only RN in duty is the DON...with LVN's filling other nurse roles. And the CNA's do most of the physical care, delegated by the nurse, bringing in a team element.

I agree primary care is best in critical care...my primary reason being that whenever a PCT is present the facility can't resist subtracting a nurse...and the nurses' direct asesment skills are too important in ICU/CCU to dilute their presence.

I've never seen functional nursing work too well as a general practice when it's attempted in acute care. I think staffing is too unpredictable and the nurses do get bored doing 'just one thing' unless it's something they really love. :)

I enjoy team nursing outside criticial care when I have a good assistant...but as mentioned, we do not consistently find that good assistant. It is difficult work, and turnover is high, so I feel like I'm in 'training mode' constantly, only to have them leave.

More nurses would stay in nursing and be happier on the job, IMO, IF facilities provided consistent, sufficient support staff such as CNA's or PCT's who are competent and can truly be helpful. IF they did this without reducing the nurse to patient ratios that is.

medical renal · Aug 5, 2007

EMTPTORN--It look like I am a few months late for your discussion, but how did you presentation turn out? As you can see from my posting, my unit is gearing up to head that way. All that is left is to define the educational process. Any need to know information you can throw my way? Medical Renal