Abstract (eng)
This study deals with the implementation of the organizational care system, primary nursing, on a cardiothoracic vascular surgery intensive care unit of the Viennese hospitals association in the form of a pilot project. The essential base elements of the system are based on Manthey, (2005:61) the transfer of decision making responsibility onto one person, daily task assignments based on case methods, direct human to human communication and taking responsibility for the quality of care provided, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The focus of the evaluation lies on the practical usefulness and acceptance on the part of the caretakers and nursing supervisors, physicians, patients, and their relatives. The main objective is on the one hand to monitor the achievement of objects through summative evaluation and on the other hand to develop terms and guidelines for a successful implementation, and also to demonstrate a change in the quality of care documentation and to show its effect on nursing processes.
With an assessment framework for impact indicators the mean effectiveness of Primary Nursing at an adult intensive care unite could be verified. Through guideline interviews with Primary Nurses and reflection discussions with project team members, plus nursing records and with the help of the schedules of the nursing staff, situations were analyzed and conditions were illustrated. The conditions for a successful implementation are, extensive information about the Organizational Care System for everyone involved with Primary Nursing. Also important are personnel resources, and a relaxed work atmosphere. Both benefit a good cooperation between other professionals and nurses that fulfill the roll as Primary Nurses on a voluntary basis. These nurses have a work experience of at least three years at the specific ward. They are also supported by, for example an improvement team of institution. If pressure is built up due to the taking of further responsibilities and the care continuity, the ward should offer coping strategies. Further schooling in Primary Nursing and nursing diagnosis can also have a positively effect on the implementation, because even though a positive change in the quality of nursing documentation has already taken place, an improvement and a consistent understanding for nursing diagnosis can be aspired to.
Further more, three kinds of nursing processes can be identified. These are responsible action, burdening action, and unchanged action. From these it can be concluded that concrete transparent scheduling guidelines, and also the transference of the tasks of Primary Nurses and Associate Nurses are necessary. Further, guidelines should regulate the moment and period of the transference of the patient to Primary Nurses.