NR 447 Week 5 Nursing Care Models

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-447: RN Collaborative Healthcare

Prof. Name

Date

Nursing Care Models

Healthcare organizations rely on different nursing care models to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centered services. These models are designed to suit diverse organizational structures and workforce needs. As healthcare continues to evolve, organizations adapt care delivery models to improve efficiency, teamwork, and patient outcomes. Each nursing care model is closely aligned with organizational theories, which influence the manner in which nursing care is planned, delegated, and executed (Finkelman, 2012).

Interdisciplinary Care Model

The interdisciplinary care model is one of the most commonly applied frameworks in modern healthcare settings. This model emphasizes collaboration among diverse healthcare professionals, including charge nurses, staff nurses, case managers, rehabilitation specialists, and dietary teams. Such collaboration ensures that patient care is continuous, coordinated, and holistic.

Finkelman (2012) highlights that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports strongly advocate for this model, stressing the importance of interprofessional competency. These competencies require healthcare workers to cooperate, collaborate, communicate, and integrate care to maintain reliability and quality in care delivery.

In practice, interdisciplinary rounds are held daily on many units, allowing case management to discuss discharge needs such as rehabilitation services, medical equipment, or home health follow-ups. This proactive approach minimizes readmissions and ensures patients have the necessary support upon discharge.

Sullivan et al. (2015) argue that interprofessional collaboration enhances healthcare outcomes by incorporating the perspectives of all stakeholders, including patients and families. Evidence from Naylor (2011) also suggests that interdisciplinary collaboration improves quality, decreases care fragmentation, and ensures comprehensive care delivery.

Functional Nurse Care Model

The functional nursing model is a task-oriented approach, emphasizing efficiency and delegation. It emerged during World War II to meet the urgent need for nursing care for injured soldiers. Under this model, nurses and support staff are assigned specific responsibilities such as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, or assisting with mobility.

While the functional model maximizes the use of limited resources, it often results in fragmented care. Patients may encounter multiple caregivers during a single shift, which may reduce continuity and personalized interaction. Clement (2015) notes that this approach may overwhelm staff due to repetitive tasks and limited autonomy, potentially leading to job dissatisfaction.

Marquis and Huston (2009) caution that functional nursing may overlook priority patient needs, as the focus is primarily on task completion rather than holistic care. Furthermore, this model requires multiple coordinators, which can increase costs and contribute to inefficiencies.

Team Nursing Model

The team nursing model promotes collaboration between professional nurses and assistive staff to provide integrated care. In this model, the charge nurse coordinates care plans and delegates tasks based on the team members’ skill sets. This model encourages communication, mentorship, and shared responsibility among staff (Clement, 2015).

Key advantages include reduced staff burnout, improved morale, and enhanced patient satisfaction (Nursing Management, 2010). For new nurses and students, team nursing offers valuable supervision and hands-on learning opportunities, as noted by Cioffi and Ferguson (2009). This model also fosters professional development by exposing less experienced staff to skilled mentors and educators.

However, the success of team nursing relies heavily on effective communication. If team members are reassigned frequently, it can disrupt continuity of care and reduce patient trust. Nursing Management (2010) further identifies poor communication and lack of team cohesion as potential challenges in this model.

Comparison of Nursing Care Models

Nursing Model	Key Features	Advantages	Disadvantages
Interdisciplinary Care	Collaboration among multiple healthcare professionals (nurses, case managers, therapists, etc.)	Holistic care, improved outcomes, continuity of care, patient-centered approach	Requires high-level coordination; potential role confusion among staff
Functional Nursing	Task-based approach; staff assigned to specific duties	Efficient during staff shortages; cost-effective in crises	Fragmented care; staff dissatisfaction; overlooked patient priorities
Team Nursing	Charge nurse delegates tasks; collaboration between professional and support staff	Promotes teamwork, mentorship, patient satisfaction, reduced burnout	Communication barriers; disrupted continuity if staff changes frequently

Conclusion

Nursing care models are essential in shaping patient care delivery and organizational outcomes. Each model—whether interdisciplinary, functional, or team nursing—has its strengths and limitations. The interdisciplinary model ensures comprehensive and coordinated care, the functional model provides efficiency during workforce shortages, and the team nursing model enhances collaboration and staff development. Healthcare organizations must select and adapt these models based on patient needs, staffing resources, and organizational goals to achieve optimal outcomes.

References

Cioffi, J., & Ferguson, L. (2009). Team nursing in acute care settings: Nurses’ experiences. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26775315_Team_nursing_in_acute_care_settings_Nurses’_experiences

Clement, I. (2015). Management of nursing services and education. India: Elsevier Health Sciences APAC.

Finkelman, A. (2012). Leadership and management: Core competencies for quality care (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2009). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

NR 447 Week 5 Nursing Care Models

Naylor, M. (2011, July). Viewpoint: Interprofessional collaboration and the future of health care. American Nurse Today. Retrieved from https://www.americannursetoday.com/viewpointinterprofessional-collaboration-and-the-future-of-health-care/

Nursing Management. (2010). Team vs. primary nursing. Retrieved from http://teamnursing.net/2010/10/15/nursing-management-team-vsprimary/

Sullivan, M., Kiovsky, R., Mason, D., Hill, C., & Dukes, C. (2015, March). Interprofessional collaboration and education. AJN The American Journal of Nursing. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2015/03000/Interprofessional_Collaboration_and_Education.26.aspx