Evaluating quality of care using modular nursing on a multispecialty unit.

: The purpose of this study was to examine performance outcome measures of nurses who work on a general medical unit and those who work on specialized or modular units. A sample of 82 nurses were reassigned to patients in either specialty modules or a general medical unit. Findings suggest that large nursing units staffed according to modular groups based on common diagnosis may improve nursing care quality. Modular nurses assigned to patients on a general medical unit made more medication errors, charted nursing interventions less frequently, and were less likely to provide prompt PRN medication administration. Of concern is the care provided to chronically ill; elderly clients not admitted to a predetermined specialty module received the poorest nursing care. We support development of specialty nursing modules to replace large, general medical units, it does not measure the impact of retention, cost, or other key variables on nurse staffing. We suggest that large medical units be divided into specialty modules and that staff rotation to general medical units be minimized.