O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 1
U
ntil recently,
we followed a
traditional
model for staffing
RNs, subdividing them
into groups of pre-op,
OR and PACU nurses
who handled different
stages of patient care.
With our limited team,
however, the model faltered under call-outs, sick days and vacation
time. Now we assign RNs to specific patients, and they stay with them
throughout care, start to finish. By nixing titles, our nurses gain more
experience. From beginning to end, they see what every stage of a
patient undergoing operation looks like. From there, they foster a
stronger sense of accountability. Taking charge of one patient's entire
stay lets them own the process, see where mistakes happen and elimi-
nate them organically. On the other side, our patients and their fami-
lies are happier. They now have continuity of care and contact, and
with our nurses fully capable of guiding each step, we face much less
of a burden when other members of the team are out. We've even
been able to cut back on staff. By restructuring our staffing model, we
work smarter and stronger, and everyone benefits.
Sherry Walker, MSN, RN, CNOR
BridgePoint Hospital
Washington, D.C.
scwalker@bridgepointhealthcare.com
ARMY OF ONE
Assign Nurses to Patients, Not Places
• CONTINUITY Your patients might be happier with the continual care of one RN.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
