Can New Nursing Models Help Nurses and Patients?

• New nursing models could be the key to improving patient care and reducing burnout among nurses, according to an inaugural survey. 
• FutureCare Nursing 2025, a Wolters Kluwer Lippincott survey released last month, noted five new nursing models that could be promising after compiling information from 157 nurse leaders across various facilities. 
• In addition to more professional freedom and flexibility, the report argues that nurses could have more supportive and collaborative environments under these new models. 

New nursing models could be the key to improving patient care and reducing burnout among practitioners. 

FutureCare Nursing 2025, a Wolters Kluwer Lippincott survey released last month, suggested as much after compiling information from 157 nurse leaders across various facilities. 

Julie Stegman, vice president of Wolters Kluwer health learning and practice, said in a news release that nursing leaders “must take action” to integrate new care approaches into their facilities to improve patient outcomes. 

“There is an opportunity for hospitals and health systems to allow nurses to focus more on patient care through innovations in technology and different care models,” Stegman said. “Nursing leaders across the U.S. have acknowledged that patient care and managing the nursing workforce must combine the exploration of new care models, which aim to improve outcomes, while increasing their workforces’ capacity and engagement.” 

What are the New Nursing Models?

The report’s executive summary contends that the best approach for new nursing models might need to focus more on how to design them in a way “that will drive meaningful change and result in sustainable improvements in patient outcomes.” 

Five new nursing models stood out among the several opportunities that survey respondents discussed: 

1. Home health nursing  
2. Internal float pools  
3. Virtual nursing  
4. Telehealth nursing 
5. Multi-disciplinary care 

Success for these models, according to survey respondents, will be largely measured through the reduction of medical errors, optimization of nursing staff and workforce management, and an improvement in clinical outcomes. 

“We cannot continue to work the same way; the climate has changed, and we must adapt so that we can continue to provide the best experience and outcomes for our patients, while ensuring our nursing staff is cared for,” Sylvain Trepanier, DNP, RN, CENP, FAONL, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer at Providence, said in a news release. “Collaborating with our hospital leaders and nurses to find innovative solutions is essential in order to continue to provide compassionate care to our communities.” 

Models that are working well currently, according to the survey, are value-based care, collaborative care, and team-based nursing. 

How Will New Nursing Models Help Practitioners?

Leaders also discussed the effect these new models could have on nurses themselves. Three key advantages were cited: 

• More positive nurse reinforcement (just-in-time feedback) to manage the workflow 
• More supportive collaborative environments 
• Greater professional freedom and flexibility 

One tangible example cited in the report related to the virtual nursing model. 

“Leaders who had tested virtual nursing reported that nurses said they felt more supported when virtual counterparts stepped in to support the admissions process and post-physician-visit follow-ups,” the report stated. “Virtual nurses handling those tasks enabled bedside registered nurses to concentrate better on learning about their patients and their patients’ needs.” 

The Bottom Line

The inaugural FutureCare Nursing 2025 report found that new nursing care models, if implemented successfully, could help not only patients but address burnout among nursing staff. Five models were highlighted in the report: home health nursing, internal float pools, virtual nursing, telehealth nursing, and multi-disciplinary care. 

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