Which type of nursing emphasizes a collaborative approach to patient care, often through coordinated teams?

The emphasis on a collaborative approach to patient care is a hallmark of team nursing. This model organizes care around a group of nurses working together to provide care for a group of patients. In team nursing, registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and nursing assistants work side by side, often with defined roles, to ensure that patient needs are met more effectively through communication and collaboration. This coordination enables a more holistic approach, where team members bring their unique skills and perspectives to enhance patient outcomes.

In team nursing, the collaboration among nurses fosters better management of patient care, as the team can address various aspects of a patient’s needs more efficiently. This structure allows for shared responsibilities and facilitates continuous patient monitoring, education, and support, which can lead to improved patient satisfaction and quality of care.

The other nursing models described are distinct in their approaches. Case management focuses on the coordination of health care services for individual patients, often led by a nurse case manager. Functional nursing divides responsibilities based on tasks rather than patient needs, which can lead to fragmented care. Primary nursing assigns a single nurse to oversee a patient’s care throughout their hospital stay, emphasizing continuity but not necessarily the team-based approach inherent in team nursing.