The nursing care delivery model, in which staff members are assigned to complete specific tasks for a group of patients, is called ________.

Appeared in: UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022(shift-1st)

Explanation

Functional nursing is a task-oriented model where the focus is on the tasks to be completed, not on individual patients.
In this model, staff members are assigned specific duties (e.g., medication administration, wound care, vital signs) to perform for all patients on a unit.
This approach was designed for efficiency, especially during nursing shortages, by dividing labor based on specific functions.
The key differentiator is the assignment of 'specific tasks' rather than comprehensive patient responsibility.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: 'Alternative nursing' is not a formally defined or recognized standard model of nursing care delivery.
Option B: Team nursing involves a team of providers, led by an RN, who are collectively responsible for the total care of a small group of patients. The focus is on collaborative, comprehensive care for patients, not just task completion.
Option D: Primary nursing assigns one RN with 24/7 responsibility for a patient's total plan of care from admission to discharge. It emphasizes continuity and a strong nurse-patient relationship, which is the opposite of the fragmented, task-based approach of functional nursing.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Nursing Care Delivery Models helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding different care delivery models is essential for nurses to know their specific roles, responsibilities, and lines of communication within a healthcare setting.
The choice of model impacts nurse satisfaction, patient outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Functional nursing is efficient but can lead to fragmented care and decreased patient satisfaction.
Nurses must be able to adapt their practice to the model used by their employer, whether it's task-focused or patient-centered.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question stem: a care model where staff are assigned 'specific tasks' for a 'group of patients'.
Analyze this key phrase. 'Specific tasks' points towards a task-oriented system rather than a patient-centered one.
Evaluate each option based on this core concept.
Recall the definition of 'Functional nursing' as a model where work is divided by function or task (e.g., medication nurse, treatment nurse). This directly matches the question.
Contrast this with 'Team nursing,' which involves a team providing comprehensive care, and 'Primary nursing,' which involves one nurse's total accountability for a patient.
Eliminate 'Alternative nursing' as it is not a standard term for a care delivery model.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nursing Care Delivery Models
Stem keywords: nursing care delivery model, staff members, assigned, specific tasks, group of patients
Lead-in keywords: is called

Question ID

Q4Gw3HzhdizqSUIzbgmAtK

Reference Book

E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) pp. 205-207, 208-210

E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart B (pp 328-654 of 982) p. 20-22

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