قـَــــــالوُاْ سُبْحَـانَك لاَعِلْمَ لَـنَـاَ إٍلَّا مَا عَـَلَّمْتـَنـَا إِنـَكَ أَنْتَ العَـلِيمُ الحَكِــيمُ ُ صدق الله العظيم صدق الله العظيم ( البقرة :32) ( البقرة :32) بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Specific objectives: At the end of this topic the student will be able to: Clarify purposes of methods of nursing assignment. Identify principles of methods of nursing assignment. Determine factors to be considered in distributing duties. Differentiate between different methods of nursing assignment.

* Definition of methods of nursing assignment. * Concept of methods of nursing assignment. * Purposes of methods of nursing assignment. * Principles of methods of nursing assignment. * Factors to be considered in distributing duties. * Methods of nursing assignment. *Advantages and disadvantages for each method. Outlines:

Health Team Assignment

Definition: Refers to the manner in which the total work of the nursing unit is divided up among personnel.

Purposes: -To delegate the work to be done by nursing personnel. -Suggest appropriate procedures for nursing care, with maximum efficiency with minimum effort. -Gain the cooperation of workers in the acceptance of work to be done. -Serve as work plan.

Principles : Formulate assignment of activities based on the following principles: -Use simple clear words in writing assignment. -Fix responsibility for all duties clearly with no overlapping. -Provide for emergency situations and provide for special nursing activities. - Give each person time and opportunity to plan her work.

-Assignment must include information from the nursing orders as well as from the doctor's orders. -Arrange the various parts of the assignment in logical order. assignment in logical order. -Ensure continuity of patient care. -Assignment should be made in accordance with the administrative policies.

-Should be made by the head nurse. -Planning for skills development -Should be in written form. -Based on accurate assessment. -Two workers should never be assigned to do the same work. -It should be related to previous assignment.

Factors to be considered in distributing duties: Factors to be considered in distributing duties: - The number, qualifications, experience, and abilities of nurses. -The number, condition of patients (i.e. patient's acuity) -The number, condition of patients (i.e. patient's acuity) -The availability of supplies and equipment. -Architectural features of the unit.

Methods of assigning personnel: Methods of assigning personnel: There are five methods of assignment in general use: There are five methods of assignment in general use: 1-Case method. 2-Functional method. 3-Team nursing method. 4-Primary care method. 5-Modular method.

1-The case method: 1-The case method: -Is the oldest patient care delivery system. -In this system one must assume total responsibility for the complete care of the patient while she is on duty. -The patient has different nurse in each shift. -Is used frequently in intensive care unit. -As a method for teaching student nurses. -Is widely used in home health agencies.

Advantages: -Quality of patient care is high. -Patient satisfaction is high. Disadvantage: -Limited continuity of care. -High cost.

2-Functional nursing method: 2-Functional nursing method: Work assignment are divided into tasks and assigned to nursing and ancillary personnel. It is a task focus. Work assignment are divided into tasks and assigned to nursing and ancillary personnel. It is a task focus.

Advantages: - Need less equipment and supplies. -It is efficient when there is shortage of staff. - Cost effective.

Disadvantages: -Fragmented care. -No one nurse is familiar with patient total needs. -It is difficult to fix responsibility for errors. -Depersonalized patient care. -Less satisfaction for nurses and patients.

3-Team nursing method: -Team nursing uses a group of health care workers with varied skills, and training. They are directed by a leader to provide total services for a defined patient population. -Team nursing usually refers to large group of patients.

-The team leader plans, coordinates and supervises, evaluates and participates in the delivery of care to patients. -The main features of team nursing are the nursing care plan and team conference.

Advantages: - High quality of care. - Nurses satisfaction is high. - Patients and physician satisfaction is high. - Development of leadership skills.

Disadvantages: -Very high cost. -More time needed by the team to meet and share ideas and coordinate efforts. -Need more equipment and supplies.

4-Modular method: It is a combination of primary method and team method. It is a combination of primary method and team method. -Varied from primary nursing that, it can be used when nursing staff includes practical nurses and professional nurses.

-It is similar to primary assignment in that each pair of nursing personnel is responsible for care of patient from admission to discharge. -It is similar to team nursing that professional and non professional workers work together.

5-Primary nursing method: -Primary nursing features a registered nurse who gives total patient care from four to six patients, while she is on duty; and remains responsible for the care of these patients twenty four hours a day throughout the patient's hospitalization.

-The associate nurse care for the patients by using the care plane developed by the primary nurse. She has to contact primary nurse regarding change in the care plane. Advantages; -Increases satisfaction of both nurses and patients. -High quality care.

Disadvantages: - Time consuming. - High cost.