Health Professionals’ Roles Physician Informs the family of - TopicsExpress

Health Professionals’ Roles Physician Informs the family of the patient’s medical condition and explains treatment recommendations, including expected benefits and side effects; explains what would happen without the treatment; orders tests, medications and treatments. Nurse Carries out physician orders; monitors the patient and reports changes to physician; provides direct care and supervises the care provided by nursing assistants; coordinates with other members of the care team; updates family about the patient’s condition; teaches caregivers how to provide care safely and comfortably. Nursing Assistant Provides personal care (bathing, toileting, turning, feeding, etc.) as directed by the nurse; takes vital signs (blood pressure, temperature and pulse) if ordered; reports changes to the nurse. Social Worker Helps the patient and family cope with the illness; provides some counseling for emotional distress; helps with practical arrangements (insurance issues, funeral arrangements, transfers to other facilities). Chaplain Helps the patient and family with spiritual needs; offers prayer as requested; coordinates with the others in the patient’s faith community; helps with funeral planning. Therapists, such as occupational and physical therapists; speech language pathologists Help to maintain or improve patient functioning, when possible; teach family caregivers safe ways to lift, turn or transfer the patient. Dietician Evaluates and recommends the best food for the patient, considering nutritional needs and swallowing concerns Volunteers (available in hospice programs) Offer companionship to the patient; run errands for the family; provide direct patient care if specially trained. Your Role as Family Caregiver Participate in planning care and setting goals; you know what is most important to the patient. Ask questions about your loved one’s condition. Ask if all providers are communicating with each other; request family meetings when you need to clarify goals and improve coordination. Inform the care team about any change in symptoms. As the nurse taught you, provide direct patient care. Not everyone is willing or able to do so, but for many, it is an important way of caring. Talk to your loved one, even if he or she seems unresponsive. Reinforce dignity and express affection. Include your loved one in conversations about day-to-day events. Engage in activities that your loved one has enjoyed. Reminisce, pray, sing. Touch! Hug, hold hands, massage.