Before implementing primary nursing, what staffing factor must be determined to support the care model?

Before implementing primary nursing, what staffing factor must be determined to support the care model?

• A. Number of registered nurses needed
• B. Salaries of care providers
• C. Disposition of current support staff
• D. Educational preparation of the staff

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to know how many registered nurses are needed to provide continuous primary nurse coverage for all patients. In primary nursing, each patient is assigned a primary nurse who plans, coordinates, and monitors care around the clock. To make this model work, you must first determine how many RNs are required to cover all shifts given the patient census and acuity. Once you have that staffing level, you can align roles, schedules, and support staff accordingly. Salaries, current support staff disposition, and educational preparation matter for feasibility and budgeting, but they do not establish whether the model can be staffed in the first place—the essential factor is the number of RNs needed.

The main idea is to know how many registered nurses are needed to provide continuous primary nurse coverage for all patients. In primary nursing, each patient is assigned a primary nurse who plans, coordinates, and monitors care around the clock. To make this model work, you must first determine how many RNs are required to cover all shifts given the patient census and acuity. Once you have that staffing level, you can align roles, schedules, and support staff accordingly. Salaries, current support staff disposition, and educational preparation matter for feasibility and budgeting, but they do not establish whether the model can be staffed in the first place—the essential factor is the number of RNs needed.