This document discusses different methods of patient assignment in nursing. It defines patient assignment as how the total work of a nursing unit is divided among personnel. The main methods discussed are: case method (one nurse cares for assigned patients per shift), functional method (work divided into tasks), team nursing (group of nurses care for patients led by team leader), primary nursing (one nurse cares for 4-6 patients 24/7 during hospitalization), and modular method (combines primary and team nursing). The document outlines advantages and disadvantages of each approach and factors to consider in patient assignment.

1. PATIENT ASSIGNMENTPATIENT ASSIGNMENT

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

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

6. Patient assignmentPatient assignment
In the patient method of assignment a nurseIn the patient method of assignment a nurse
is a expected to give complete nursing careis a expected to give complete nursing care
to one or more patient including generalto one or more patient including general
nursing measures, treatments, medications,nursing measures, treatments, medications,
taking temperature, pulse, respirationtaking temperature, pulse, respiration

7. Purposes:Purposes:
 --To provide patient with best possible nursingTo provide patient with best possible nursing
care.care.
 To provide a well rounded educationTo provide a well rounded education
experience for student nurses.experience for student nurses.
 -Suggest appropriate procedures for nursing-Suggest appropriate procedures for nursing
care, with maximum efficiency with minimumcare, with maximum efficiency with minimum
effort.effort.
 -Gain the cooperation of workers in the-Gain the cooperation of workers in the
acceptance of work to be done.acceptance of work to be done.
 -Serve as work plan.-Serve as work plan.

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

9. -- Assignment must include information from theAssignment must include information from the
nursing orders as well as from the doctor's orders.nursing orders as well as from the doctor's orders.
-- Arrange the various parts of the assignment inArrange the various parts of the assignment in
logical order.logical order.
-- Ensure continuity of patient care.Ensure continuity of patient care.
- Assignment should be made in accordance with theAssignment should be made in accordance with the
administrative policies.administrative policies.
-- It should be made by the head nurse.It should be made by the head nurse.
-- Planning for skills developmentPlanning for skills development

10. ---Should be in written form.-Should be in written form.
-Based on accurate assessment.-Based on accurate assessment.
-Two workers should never be assigned to do-Two workers should never be assigned to do
the same work.the same work.
-It should be related to previous assignment.-It should be related to previous assignment.

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

12.  Methods of assigningMethods of assigning
personnel:personnel:
 There are five methods of assignment inThere are five methods of assignment in
general use:general use:
11--Case methodCase method..
22--Functional methodFunctional method..
33--Team nursing methodTeam nursing method..
44--Primary care methodPrimary care method..
55--Modular methodModular method..

13.  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.

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

15.  22-Functional nursing method-Functional nursing method ::
Work assignment are divided intoWork assignment are divided into
tasks and assigned to nursing andtasks and assigned to nursing and
ancillary personnel. It is a taskancillary personnel. It is a task
focus.focus.

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

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

18. 3-Team nursing method:3-Team nursing method:
--Team nursing uses a group of health careTeam nursing uses a group of health care
workers with varied skills, and training. Theyworkers with varied skills, and training. They
are directed by a leader to provide totalare directed by a leader to provide total
services for a defined patient population.services for a defined patient population.
-Team nursing usually refers to large group of-Team nursing usually refers to large group of
patients.patients.

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

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

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

22. 4-Modular method:4-Modular method:
It is a combination of primary methodIt is a combination of primary method
and team method.and team method.
-Varied from primary nursing that, it can be-Varied from primary nursing that, it can be
used when nursing staff includes practicalused when nursing staff includes practical
nurses and professional nurses.nurses and professional nurses.

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

24. 5-Primary nursing method:5-Primary nursing method:
-Primary nursing features a registered nurse who-Primary nursing features a registered nurse who
gives total patient care from four to sixgives total patient care from four to six
patients, while she is on duty; and remainspatients, while she is on duty; and remains
responsible for the care of these patientsresponsible for the care of these patients
twenty four hours a day throughout thetwenty four hours a day throughout the
patient's hospitalization.patient's hospitalization.

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

26. Disadvantages:Disadvantages:
- Time consuming.- Time consuming.
- High cost.- High cost.