When choosing a nursing care delivery model, it is important to know the impact each has on both the patients and the nurses. Each model has advantages and a combination of different models may end up enhancing them while minimizing the disadvantages. As a nurse working in the Emergency Department, it seems that the best combination is the Team Nursing and Functional Nursing Method. Advantages of team nursing include that at an efficient level, it provides holistic and comprehensive care.
The nurses work as a team directed by a team leader who is in direct contact with the patients. Furthermore, the nurses work at their optimum and hence are able to get job satisfaction. However, the team is a disadvantage as it requires cooperation, communication, commitment and team spirit for it to work. Also, the care provided depends on the nurses’ shifts ranging from 8-12 hours thus reducing accountability. Finally, the constant change of the team leader form one day to the next affects the care given to the patient (Cherry B. & Jacob S. R. 2005).
Functional nursing leads to the accomplishment of a lot within a short time. The nurses only do what they can do best thus providing the best possible care. There are assistive personnel who reduce the nurses’ workload allowing them to become efficient. Finally a large number of patients can be attended to in a very short time thus increasing efficiency. The disadvantages include the lack of an identifiable nurse by the patients. The care given lacks continuity and finally there is a lot of dissatisfaction by both the nurses and the patients (Kelly-Heidenthal P.
2003). When the two methods are used, they complement each other. Lack of commitment in a team is countered by the reduced workload using assistive personnel. A team leader is identified by the patients hence providing continuity and reducing the disjointed feeling among the patients. The dissatisfaction in functional is tempered by the satisfaction of an efficient nurse and a happy patient. Lack of accountability in a team is eliminated by each nurse attending to identified patients (Huber D. 2006).
References
1. Cherry B. & Jacob S. R. 2005, Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends & Management, 3rd Edition Elsevier Health Sciences, 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 2. Huber D. 2006, Leadership and Nursing Care Management, 3rd Edition, Elsevier Health Sciences, Independence Square West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3. Kelly-Heidenthal P. 2003, Nursing Leadership & Management, Delmar Learning Thomson Learning Company 2003 Retrieved on 14th March 2009 From http://www. delmarlearning. com/companions/content/0766825086/ppt/Chapter%2012. ppt