In which system does a nurse coordinate the entire care of a patient from admission to discharge?

• A. Primary nursing
• B. Team nursing
• C. Nursing case management
• D. Case method

Answer: (A)

Primary nursing designates one registered nurse as the primary caregiver who plans, directs, and evaluates all aspects of a patient’s care from admission through discharge. This creates continuous, accountable care—the same nurse stays involved across shifts, communicates the plan to the patient and team, and ensures consistency in how the care is carried out. Team nursing shares responsibilities among a group led by a team leader, so no single nurse owns the entire course of care. Nursing case management focuses on coordinating services and resources across settings, often emphasizing discharge planning and cost management rather than day-to-day care through the hospital stay. The case method is an older approach where one nurse handles all care for a patient, but primary nursing more explicitly embodies ongoing, centralized responsibility for the entire hospital journey.