Team nursing and ITU--a good combination?

Deficits in 'measurable care', in an 11-bedded intensive care unit, prompted a pilot study of team nursing. Team nursing was introduced for three beds out of the total 11 for a period of six months. In order to evaluate the effects, aspects of care and job satisfaction were measured and compared between the team nursing beds and the rest of the unit. The study revealed that job satisfaction and the levels of 'measurable care' did not improve whilst team nursing was practised. Based on this evidence, the authors question the relevance of team nursing in this particular intensive therapy unit (ITU) and maintain that the best method of delivering nursing care in ITU remains unclear.