Primary nursing. Teamwork is the answer.

Eight years of experience with primary nursing in a 750-bed acute care teaching hospital revealed several persistent problems: isolationism among nurses, communication problems between nurses and physicians, inadequate documentation, and insufficient time for patient and staff education, resulting in frustration for the nursing staff. By combining the basic elements of primary and team nursing, a 3-month pilot in one unit resulted in improved job satisfaction for professional staff, improved quality assurance scores, and increased physician-nurse communication.