Organisation and management of care

This chapter explores the practical application of care organisation and considers the wider context of practitioners' need to minimise risk, be responsive to changes, influence service provision and act as leaders to enhance the quality of care provision in the community. The management of care, prioritisation and directing resources towards areas of greatest need are a professional obligation as well as being vital to the cost-effectiveness and high quality of care provided. The safe, cost-effective and efficient management of care in the community setting is one of the many challenges nurses face on a regular basis. Community nurses work in a dynamic and constantly changing care environment with potentially limitless demands. In addition to managing the risks associated with a continually shifting caseload, community nurses are responsible for safeguarding vulnerable groups, seeking health needs and actively identifying potential patients, employing a patient-centred, proactive, pre-emptive approach to service provision.