title: Clinical nurse specialist practice within the Acute Care for Elders interdisciplinary team model.
abstract: As the complexity of care increases for hospitalized older adults, the clinical nurse specialist is essential for ongoing development of nursing practice and care standards. This article describes the Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) model for interdisciplinary management of older adults and clinical specialist responsibilities within this interdisciplinary team. Within the model, clinical care specialists utilize clinical expertise and consultation skills reflecting three spheres of practice related to care of high-risk community-dwelling older adults admitted an acute medical unit. The goal for this patient group is to achieve medical stability while preserving maximum functioning. The Acute Care of the Elderly team members include primary nurses (staff nurses), physicians, clinical care specialists, therapies, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and a discharge planner. Under the leadership of the primarily nurse, the team develops a comprehensive care and discharge plan, implemented across a care continuum. Using protocols and working together, the team delivers cost-effective, coordinated care that promotes process improvement resulting in practice that is in alignment with current standards of care.
authors.affiliation: Summa Health System, Akron City Hospital, 525 E. Market Street, Akron, OH 44309, USA. BenedicL@summa-health.org
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holder
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration