Synergy: The Unique Relationship Between Nurses and Patients

Models can be confusing or can make the work of the organization understandable. The Synergy Model simplifies the work of the organization because it is a patient-centric model based simply on the needs of the patient. (Karlene Kerfoot, RN, PhD, FAAN, Partner, Kerfoot & Associates) The premise of the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care is simple, elegant, and historically embedded in the practice of nursing nurses have always done what patients needed and were unable to do for themselves. It is within nurse-patient relationships that nurses most meaningful contributions are experienced. Author Martha Curley, RN, PhD, FAAN, one of the originators and the foremost expert on the Synergy Model, believes fully realizing and expressing those contributions may be the best way to keep nursing strong at the bedside and in the boardroom. Synergy: The Unique Relationship Between Nurses and Patients offers a practical and intuitive framework that resonates with nurses from varying subspecialties, levels of expertise, and roles from staff nurse to chief nurse executive. It resonates with clinicians because it describes what nurses do based on the primacy of patients and optimal nurse-patient relationships. Large and small health care systems, schools of nursing, and professional organizations are working to develop and implement this new way of looking at nursing practice that is driven by the fundamental assumption that patient characteristics drive nurse competencies to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Through these 16 chapters, you will find the model revealed through the knowledge and experience of staff nurses, nurse leaders, educators, scientists, peer reviewers, and certification experts.