Partners in caring: an innovative nursing model of care delivery

Nursing leadership at Morristown Medical Center, a Magnet-designated, 600-plus bed tertiary care center, in response to forces, such as health care reform, and recommendations, such as those outlined in the Institute of Medicine report The Future of Nursing, developed an innovative model of care delivery called the Partners in Caring. This model of care delivery is an approach built on a functional unit of registered nurse-nurse assistant partnership supported by a patient care facilitator. The nursing partners are accountable for the coordination of patient care with an emphasis on patient and organizational goal achievement of (1) improving the health of our patients, (2) developing and maintaining an improved and responsive health care system, and (3) lowering costs while delivering quality care. The model of care was developed and is being implemented and evaluated using a knowledge translation methodology to ensure its evidence base and outcome achievement. Transforming workforce roles and communication patterns, incorporating technology to benefit time management and maintaining a keen focus on achieving patient outcomes are hallmarks of this new model.