Which statement is a disadvantage of the Primary Nursing Model?

• A. High cost due to higher RN skill
• B. Increased patient and family satisfaction
• C. Efficiency in staffing
• D. No impact on accountability

Answer: (A)

Primary Nursing assigns one nurse to plan, coordinate, and evaluate a patient’s care, which improves continuity and accountability and often boosts patient and family satisfaction. The main drawback is the higher cost, because relying on a primary nurse with high-level RN expertise typically requires more RN hours and higher staffing expenses. This can strain budgets even as the approach supports better outcomes. The idea that there is no impact on accountability isn’t aligned with how the model works, since a primary nurse bears clear responsibility for the patient’s overall care. Other described benefits are real advantages, not disadvantages, which is why the cost issue stands out as the primary negative.