The Block Nurse Program

Abstract

The idea for the block system of nursing care evolved during a project that studied home care for the dying child. The concept of using the nurse who lives closest to the family needing care and can respond promptly to requests for nursing services was tested and found workable during that project (Moldow & Martinson, 1980). The senior author, in an effort to make health care cost-effective while retaining high quality care for all citizens, particularly for the elderly, decided to test whether the block nurse model would work in her own community. This article describes the background, initiation, and ongoing process of a block nurse program.