Primary Nursing is a responsibility relationship that begins the moment it is established by the RN, continues in a therapeutic way through the length of stay of a patient on a unit, and is visible to other caregivers and family members who assist in meeting that patient's needs. The basic reality of primary nursing is that patients receive high quality care that is most cost-effective because accountability for overall care belongs to a single individual, a Registered Nurse. From the patient's point of view the idea makes a lot of sense.
Patients know the name and role of the nurse responsible for their care coordination.
From the nurse's point of view this system gives them the opportunity to practice real nursing even though they are working on a busy hospital unit or ward. From the physician's point of view they can finally talk to someone who really knows what is going on with their patients. Primary Nursing was originally designed for improving nursing care delivered to sick people who are hospitalized. It also facilitates professional nursing practice despite the beaurocratic nature of the hospital setting. In other settings such as home care, Primary nursing is the natural method of care delivery.