what is team nursing in your facility?

[I<3H2O, BSN, RN]

Does your RN assess, LPN pass meds? How many pt. per team? Do you get an aide? What else is standard? tell me how it works... please. :)

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Well i think i answered this on the above post but.

Each team has a varied number of patients depending on census. I have had as few as 5 and as many as 12 on my "team". A large team warrents 1RN, 1LPN and 1 CNA for possibly up to 12 (not real frequent but it happens). Usually it will be approximately 8-9 patients. Occasionally if census is down, we may make 1RN and 1CNA team and float the LPN to another unit which needs more staff. So maybe 4 patients would warrent an LPN to float somewhere else.

Occasionally we will keep 1 LPN for the floor of say 9-10 patients with 2 RN each with 4-5 patients and 2 CNA's. (LPN still does her own duties for the 9-10)

Rn's assess, field orders, make rounds with doctors, give IV push meds, any central line issues and meds, charting and answer call lights and assist patients as needed.

LPN's pass meds, treatments, dressings, assist with baths when needed, assist to ambulate, chart I&Os, and other tasks as delegated by the RN.

CNA will do baths, answer call lights, turn patients, ambulate patients, get vitals, sometimes will go after blood or make a pharmacy run, chart meals.

Hope this kind of helps. I think everywhere has their own idea of what team nursing is. Its just going to have to work itself out with the mix of staff and personalities you have on your unit.

We have to remember with team nursing also,, we are all still responsible for those on our floor. Just because a call light is going off on the other side of the hall doesnt mean you cant walk over there and answer it. That is the KEY thing to team nursing,, is people working together for a common goal. Noone sits idle while someone else runs themselves crazy.