Organizational Structures and Delivery Models

Question 1

What are four characteristics of an organization?

Answer 1

1. Common goal
2. Coordination effort
3. Division of labour
4. Established delegation of authority

Question 2

What are five characteristics of organizational structures?

Answer 2

Complexity
Size
Geographical
Formalization
Centralization

Question 3

What do organizational charts show?

Answer 3

Authority
Positions
Accountability
Division of labour
Relationship of individuals

Question 4

What do organizational charts not show?

Answer 4

Informal communication
Goals of organization
Culture
Degree of authority

Question 5

What are three organizational theories, and during which periods of time were they prevelant?

Answer 5

Classic (bureaucratic) 1900’s
Humanistic 1930’s
Modern 1950’s

Question 6

What was the goal of the classic organizational theory?

Answer 6

High production, efficiency and profit.

Question 7

What was the goal of the humanistic organizational theory?

Answer 7

Economic, productivity, profit, job satisfaction led to improved production.

Question 8

What was the goal of the modern organizational theory?

Answer 8

Independence of individuals to meet a common goal.

Question 9

What are three types of organizational structures?

Answer 9

Centralized (tall)
Decentralized (flat)
Matrix

Question 10

What is the total patient care/case method?

Answer 10

Oldest known model of nursing. Nurse:patient ratio is 1:1. It is the predominant model of care in high acuity settings.

Question 11

What are advantages to the total patient care/case method?

Answer 11

Consistent, holistic care
Subtle changes noted quickly
Very useful with complex patients

Question 12

What are disadvantages to the total patient care/case method?

Answer 12

Expensive

Not ideal with nursing shortage

Question 13

What is the functional model of care delivery?

Answer 13

Each employee has a designated set of tasks, skills, and activities.

Question 14

What are the advantages of the functional model of care delivery?

Answer 14

Efficiency
Unskilled workers can be trained to do specific tasks
Give care to large numbers of patients

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of the functional model of care delivery?

Answer 15

Fragmentation of care
Confusion for patients
Critical changes may go unnoticed
Poor communication lines

Question 16

What is the team model of care delivery?

Answer 16

Based on the basis that each unit will have 2 or more teams to provide care to a geographic location of patients. Each team has variously educated care providers i.e. RN, LPN, care aid, etc.

Question 17

What are the advantages of the team model of care delivery?

Answer 17

Improved patient satisfaction
Cost effective
Works with multiple levels of health care i.e. RN, LPN, HCA

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of the team model of care delivery?

Answer 18

If team leader has poor communication/leadership skills
Duplication of care
Need time for conferencing

Question 19

What is the primary model of care delivery?

Answer 19

One nurse functions as the patient’s primary care giver throughout their entire length of stay. The RN plans and delivers all the care.

Question 20

What are the advantages of the primary model of care delivery?

Answer 20

Noted increased quality of care. Nurses further their education and knowledge to provide optimal care of their patients.

Increased job satisfaction.

Establish relationship with patient and family.

Decreases # of unlicensed personnel.

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of the primary model of care delivery?

Answer 21

Lack of experience or education of RN; shorter stays, large # of part time RN’s.

RN are held accountable even if not physically present for 24 hour responsibility of care.

Costly.

Question 22

What is the nursing case management model of care delivery?

Answer 22

A system in which health care services are controlled and monitored. Key to this model is the identification of a critical pathway for care and treatment. RN’s most often act as the case managers.

Question 23

What are the advantages of the nursing case management model of care delivery?

Answer 23

Patients receive more services and have fewer unmet needs.

Cost effective.

Better patient monitoring, decreased complications.

Nurse satisfaction.

Question 24

What are the disadvantages of the nursing case management model of care delivery?

Answer 24

Duplication of services

Turf wars between services, i.e. RN and social worker, etc.