A conflict develops between an associate nurse and a primary nurse over the assessment of a patient with pulmonary edema

Question

Based on her assessment of the patient, the associate nurse insists that it is her role to change the care plan because she is the one who has made the assessment. As the nurse manager, you clarify that: a. It is the role of the primary nurse to make alterations based on assessment data and input.
b. The associate nurse is accountable and responsible while the primary nurse is off duty and therefore is able to alter the care plan.
c. Neither the primary nor the associate should make changes without first con-sulting you as the manager.
d. It really does not matter who alters the nursing care plan as it depends on situa-tion and time to do so.

Answer 1

A
The primary nursing model assumes that the primary nurse is accountable for patient care, even while off duty. The primary nurse is responsible for establishing the patient plan of care and therefore for altering it with the input of an associate. The associate is responsible for implemen-tation of the established care plan when the primary nurse is off duty.