Nova Scotia delegation studies Vitalité Health Network’s collaborative nursing model
Moncton, Monday, April 22, 2024 – A delegation of nursing directors and managers from the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Eastern Zone visited the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton on April 15, 2024 to learn more about Vitalité Health Network’s collaborative nursing model.
“Inspired by winning practices, this new model, which innovates in the delivery of inpatient nursing care, was developed in 2022 to help meet the challenges posed by the nursing shortage. It has enabled us to meet patient needs more effectively while at the same time increasing the satisfaction of our nursing staff,” explained Allison White, Corporate Director of Nursing.
This model adds an attendant as a care provider working in a triad format (group of three) in combination with a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse. The scopes of practice and responsibilities of each of these team members were also reviewed and optimized.
The principle of hourly rounds supports this new collaborative care model. Within the triad, the patient care attendant is assigned this task. These rounds reduce falls, pressure sores, call bell use, and unplanned staff movement and increase patient satisfaction.
Furthermore, the addition of kinesiologists made it possible to develop a patient mobilization program that is relieving the burden on nursing staff, reducing length of stay, and increasing patient mobility.
This reorganization of the makeup of the care team was initially rolled out on the surgical, medical, long-term care and nephrology units. This new model also allowed us to decrease our use of agency staff.
Patients on these units have benefitted from fewer delays in care delivery and from an increased staff presence at the bedside. Since the introduction of this model, patients have received almost one additional hour of care per day.
The next phase of the rollout will extend the model to our Mother-Child Program, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Tertiary and Forensic Psychiatry Services.
