continuing care nurse /kəntin″yo̅o̅·ing/ [L, continuare, to unite] , a nurse who specializes in coordination of the overall needs of the patient with the potential health care resources of the community. Much of the emphasis is on discharge planning and assessment of the availability of participation in the patient’s care after discharge by members of the family or other parties. Continuing care nursing responsibilities and discharge planning ideally begin at the time a patient is admitted to a hospital. Also called nurse navigator.
