The specialized role of the RN in the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) interdisciplinary care team

There is an increasing volume of literature supporting the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as an innovative model of health care delivery for frail seniors. Registered Nurses (RN) hold an essential position among the PACE interdisciplinary teams (IDT) which serve as the foundational practice approach to patient care. There are currently 97 PACE programs in 31 states. Federal and respective state laws provide comprehensive specifications for IDT composition, minimum qualification of team members and services provided. The role of the RN is not fully defined beyond the requirement of periodic assessments. The intent of this study was to explore and describe the role of the nurse in PACE and to compare nursing care delivery models. Focused interviews and survey results show great variation in nursing roles as well as some common themes among nursing leaders for the vision of PACE nurses.