UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
*Chapter 14: Organizing Patient Care* - CORRECT ANSWER -
Choosing Organizational Models
-How are methods of organizing patient care chosen?
-Choosing an appropriate model depends on what? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Many
nursing departments have a history of selecting methods of organizing patient care based upon
the most current popular mode rather than objectively determining the best method for a
particular unit or department
-Choosing the most appropriate organizational mode to deliver patient care for each unit or
organization depends on the skill and expertise of the staff, the availability of registered
professional nurses, the economic resources of the organization, the acuity of the patients, and
the complexity of the tasks to be completed.
Changing the Patient Care Delivery Mode:
Questions the Change Agent Must Ask - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. How will the
reorganization alter autonomy and individual and group decision making?
2. How will social interactions and interpersonal relationships change?
3. Will employees view their unit of work differently?
4. Will the change require a wider or more restricted range of skills and abilities on the part of
the caregiver?
5. Will the redesign change how employees receive feedback on their performance, either for
self-evaluation or by others?
6. Will communication patterns change?
The Five Primary Means of Organizing Nursing Care for Patient Care Delivery: - CORRECT
ANSWER - Total patient care
Functional nursing
, Team and modular nursing
Primary nursing
Case management
Total Patient Care/Case Method Nursing - CORRECT ANSWER - -Oldest mode of
organizing patient care.
-Nurses assume total responsibility for meeting the needs of all assigned patients during their
time on duty.
-Pros: has autonomy and responsibility, as well as a clear role
-Cons: With there being three different shifts, there are three different nurses providing care who
may have different approaches. This leads to a lack of continuity of care and could confuse the
patient. Other cons are nurses who have too little experience or training to provide total patient
care.
(See ppt and book for good picture to illustrate this method)
Functional Nursing - CORRECT ANSWER - -Evolved as a result of World War II.
-Uses relatively unskilled workers who have been trained to complete certain tasks.
-Care is assigned by task rather than by patient.
-The nurse is not providing direct patient care. The nurse is a manager who directs others to care
for patients and to complete tasks.
-Pros: This mode is very efficient—tasks are done quickly with little confusion on what needs to
be done. Requires a minimal number of RNs and long-term care facilities still use this mode.
-Cons: Consist of possible fragmented care, overlooking the patient's primary needs, low job
satisfaction due to feelings of understimulation, lack of cost effectiveness because of the need for
more coordinators, and employees focusing on only their efforts rather than overall results.
(See ppt and book for good picture to illustrate this method)
Team Nursing - CORRECT ANSWER - -Ancillary personnel collaborate in providing
care to a group of patients under the direction of a professional nurse.
-The nurse as the leader knows about the patients' conditions and the plan of care for each.