Primary Nursing with the Nursing Shortage: Is it still possible?

See this editorial appearing in ADVANCE for Nurses.

http://nursing.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?prg=3&cc=110560.

Is primary nursing still possible in today's healthcare system? According to the editorial:

"Her primary nurses on each unit identified themselves as the persons responsible for her care, discussed goals, informed her of what to expect and prepared her for transfer to another unit or for discharge."

My nephew was admitted to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in December and my grandmother was hospitalized at University Hospital in Cincinnati. I spent most of December 2007 in Hospital rooms and clinics and I didn't observe any form of primary care nursing. What I observed was survival staffing and the band-aid approach to nursing care.

Which is one of the reasons why anytime my nephew who has an ASD and Pulmonary Hypertension is hospitalized, someone (me, my mother, one of my sisters, or a grandparent) is ALWAYS present at the Hospital. 

What are your experiences with primary care nursing? Is primary care nursing a reality on your unit? Did you observe primary care nursing when your family, friend, or loved one is hospitalized?