Functional nursing is a method of providing

RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-3rd)

Fundamental of Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-3rd)

Explanation

Functional nursing is a specific model or system designed for the delivery of patient care.
It operates on a task-oriented basis, where different nursing staff members are assigned specific tasks (e.g., administering medications, performing treatments) for a large group of patients.
The primary goal is to efficiently accomplish patient care tasks, making it a method of providing patient care, especially in settings with staff shortages.

Option A: Care of records (documentation) is a single task within the broader scope of nursing. Functional nursing is a comprehensive model for delivering all aspects of care, not just managing paperwork.
Option B: Case management is a distinct, holistic care model where one nurse coordinates a patient's care across the continuum, focusing on long-term outcomes. This is fundamentally different from the fragmented, task-based approach of functional nursing.
Option D: Equipment care is an indirect, ancillary task necessary for healthcare delivery but is not the direct service being provided to the patient through a nursing model.

Visual 1: Flowchart - Illustrating the functional nursing model. A charge nurse at the top delegates specific tasks (e.g., 'Medication Nurse,' 'Treatment Nurse,' 'Vitals Nurse') to different staff members, who then care for all patients in the unit for that specific task.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Models of Nursing Care Delivery helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Functional nursing is often implemented in long-term care facilities or during times of critical staffing shortages due to its efficiency.
A significant risk of this model is fragmented care, which can lead to patient dissatisfaction and safety issues if communication between caregivers is poor. Nurses must prioritize clear handoffs.
What if? - If the setting were a hospice unit focused on palliative care, the functional model would be inappropriate. A model like Primary Nursing or Total Patient Care would be chosen to foster a therapeutic, trusting relationship between the nurse, patient, and family.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'Functional nursing'.
Recognize that the question is asking for the fundamental purpose or definition of this term.
Evaluate the options to determine which one represents the overarching goal of this nursing model.
Eliminate options that are too narrow or represent only a single task (Care of records, Equipment care).
Differentiate the model from other distinct nursing models (Case management) to arrive at the most accurate description, which is 'Patient care'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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