In a primary nursing model, which role is the one primarily described as coordinating patient care?

In a primary nursing model, which role is the one primarily described as coordinating patient care?

• A. Manager
• B. Advocate
• C. Decision maker
• D. Care coordinator

Answer: (D)

In primary nursing, one nurse takes responsibility for the patient’s overall care plan and acts as the central point of contact for the patient, family, and the health-care team. The role that best describes coordinating all aspects of care across shifts and disciplines is the care coordinator. This person ensures that orders, treatments, education, and discharge planning are harmonized, and that the plan stays consistent as the patient’s needs evolve, communicating with the entire team to keep everyone on the same page. A primary nurse may also advocate for the patient and participate in clinical decisions, but the defining function here is orchestrating the coordination of care across the care continuum. The other roles are more aligned with administrative leadership, patient advocacy, or individual clinical decision-making rather than the ongoing, system-wide coordination of care.

In primary nursing, one nurse takes responsibility for the patient’s overall care plan and acts as the central point of contact for the patient, family, and the health-care team. The role that best describes coordinating all aspects of care across shifts and disciplines is the care coordinator. This person ensures that orders, treatments, education, and discharge planning are harmonized, and that the plan stays consistent as the patient’s needs evolve, communicating with the entire team to keep everyone on the same page. A primary nurse may also advocate for the patient and participate in clinical decisions, but the defining function here is orchestrating the coordination of care across the care continuum. The other roles are more aligned with administrative leadership, patient advocacy, or individual clinical decision-making rather than the ongoing, system-wide coordination of care.