Nursing models define the way nurses care for patients, and as such, need to be tailored to the needs and limitations of the institution in which they are practiced. Most models are based on some form of team work, whether it be just physician-nurse team work or a team consisting of several different members of the staff, such as physicians, case managers, pharmacists, RNs, LVNs, unlicensed support staff, and clerical staff. They may involve a cooperation between different institutions, as in the Johns Hopkins model discussed below, or be confined to a particular area of a hospital, as in the perioperative model. At the core of any nursing model is quality patient care and how best to achieve it. This paper will look at some nursing models currently in practice and evaluate their parameters and functions, and how they are implemented in particular settings. Nursing Models in a Professional Environment
Nurses are the predominant group of caregivers, and their standard of care affects the outcome for their patients (Newhouse and Mills, 2002). The Transformational Model for Professional Practice (TMPP)in Health Care Organizations states that "organizational providers of care must achieve a higher level of practice to meet tomorrow's challenges for providing quality care." This means nurse administrators need to create a process in the work arena where nurses can practice at a highly professional level.
Findings of a study by Newhouse and Mills (2002) suggest that there is a significant relationship between collaboration, professionalism, and leadership in the TMPP. Strong leadership skills are necessary in organized delivery systems. The Professional Practice Model delineates five steps which are necessary for nursing leaders to promote professional development in nursing: the support and mentoring of professional growth focused on commitment to the division beyond the work unit; setting of expectations for flexible a...