Team Nursing?

[MelBel]

What exactly is "team nursing"? From my understanding, an RN, LPN, and aide will take a group of patients and split the tasks...but what would the LPN do vs. the RN?

On my floor, we just evenly split the floor into groups for the nurses (with no regard to acuity or RN/LPN), and the same for the aides. Anything an LPN can not do, the RN will do for them (IV push, phone orders, etc).

Those of you who have experience with both, what do you like better?

[EmmaG, RN]

I worked a unit that did team/mod nursing. Two nurses would be assigned to a group of patients. One would be in 'charge' and give meds and treatments, while the other did assessments, baths and other physical care. Terribly inefficient and fractured care.

[PatricksRNMommy]

I have a friend who works on a unit that practices team nursing. On her unit, there is an RN/LPN/CNA team that shares several patients. The CNA does baths, vital signs, personal care assistance (help to bathroom, BSC, etc.). The LPN passess all medications (except certain IV pushes), does wound care, and other procedures within his or her scope of practice. The RN is responsible for head to toe assessment, care plans, communication with the Dr, assessing lab values, and any admissions or discharges.

My unit personally doesnt do this and I don't know if I would like it. On our unit each nurse (whether RN or LPAN) is the "primary nurse" for 5-7 patients. Each LPN has an RN assigned to them as a resource. If the LPNs have an order to do something out of their scope of practice their resource nurse will do it while the LPN watches the RN's patients. This works well for us and we have a very cooperative "teamwork" approach to nursing on my floor anyways, so I'm not sure the team nursing approach would be beneficial to us.

[AprilRNhere]

We have RN/LPN teams...and also RN's who work alone. I'm ok either way..but prefer the lighter load of working alone...and being able to do complete care for my patients.

LPN's in our facility do oral meds, vitals, and most of the cares. The RN's do everything IV, assessments, careplans.