Research Paper on:
Care Partners/RNs & PCTs

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
stays. To meet these challenges, the U.S. healthcare system is turning increasing to the use of Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), which is a practice that allows RNs to delegate certain  care tasks. As with other titles for unlicensed personnel, the patient care technician (PCT) is responsible for a variety of patient-related tasks, which are performed under the "direction and  supervision of the nurse" (Evanoff, et al, 2006, p. 2). The utilization of assistive personnel, such as PCTs, working in cooperative teams with RNs as Care Partners offers a model  for meeting the challenge of maintaining quality patient care. The following proposal outlines a research project that would investigate the efficacy of two person Care Partner teams, made up of  a PCT and a supervising RN. The Problem According to the Health Resources and Services Administration 30 states reported nursing shortages in 2000 and nursing shortages in 44 states  are projected by 2020 (Kleinman and Saccomano, 2006). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics more than 1 million new nurses and replacement nurses will be required to meet  the countrys healthcare needs by 2010 (Kleinman and Saccomano, 2006). Furthermore, the American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) predicts that the demand for full-time registered nurses (RNs) will exceed  the supply by 2010 (Kleinman and Saccomano, 2006). Traditional nursing care models, such as primary nursing, are founded on the supposition that the nurse will remain at the bedside,  which provides for a high degree of accountability. In earlier eras, the nursing caseload was kept small and the use of nursing aids or assistant was kept minimal (Kleinman and  Saccomano, 2006). To meet the challenge of the nursing shortage and also the challenges represented by increased acuity levels in patient care and shorter hospital stays, the health