Raritan Bay Medical Center in New Jersey has invented a new role for the registered nurse. Named the Nurse Navigator, these nurses act as a liaison between the patient and the entire medical center. They help the patient and their family “navigate” through multidisciplinary healthcare from diagnosis to follow-up by scheduling appointments, providing advice and patient education ranging from pre-operative teaching, prevention methods and explanation of the disease process. RBMC, a Magnet Hospital-recognized facility, has seen improvements in patient outcomes and satisfaction since the implementation of this coordinating role.
(Seen above: the Magnet model graph)
We’ve all been there: Friday night, your friends are out partying, you’re at home feverishly working on your careplan that’s due at midnight, and you just can’t come up with an intervention that would benefit a tricky patient.
When suddenly, your phone vibrates. Is it your friend texting you, telling you to give it a rest and come hang out? NO. It’s good ol’ nursing4n00bs, with your careplan solution.
Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care by Betty J Ackley and Gail B Ladwig is the best dang careplan book on the market. I suggest it to anyone who has ever struggled to complete a careplan, or anyone who has ever been told that their careplans are adequate but predictable. Not only does the book provide lists of appropriate interventions (with references) for a variety of diagnoses and a list of NANDA-approved diagnoses to fit different signs/symptoms - but it helps you channel your own creativity in coming up with solutions. Best investment for nursing school, hands down.
