The Guided Care Nurse

In Guided Care, a specially educated registered nurse plays a critical and central role in ensuring that patients receive high-quality and coordinated care. Guided Care Nurses reconnect people to the center of care, are empowered to take control of their patients’ care, provide personal support to each patient individually, and offer support to family caregivers.

Seven Guided Care Nurses participated in the current randomized trial. When Guided Care launches on a broader scale, more Guided Care Nurses will be recruited, educated and placed in practices to fill this important role.

To become recognized professionally as a Guided Care Nurse, a candidate with a nursing degree and a current license must complete an accredited online Guided Care Nursing course. Upon completion of the course, the nurse is eligible to take an online examination leading to the American Nurses Credentialing Center's new Certificate in Guided Care Nursing. Please note that the ANCC Certificate is not a certification, but rather a one-time recognition of professional achievement.

The next offering of the online Guided Care Nursing course will be offered September 6 to October 15, 2010. The course is endorsed by the National Gerontological Nursing Association. SeniorBridge is a sponsor on the course. For more details about the course, please read a 1-pg flyer, visit their website, or send an email to The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing.

Comments from Guided Care Nurses

“I’m practicing nursing the way it was originally envisioned – holistic patient care.”

“I enjoy the patients and the direct access to the physician. It is great to be in the primary care physician's practice, working side-by-side - a true partnership.”

“My favorite thing about Guided Care is I am in the middle, filling the gaps in the health care system and making sure the patient really gets the care they need.”

"What I love about Guided Care is the patient advocacy, freedom, and creativity
it brings to a nurse as a professional."