Chapter 2: The Nursing Assistant and The Care Team

Chapter 2: The Nursing Assistant and The Care Team Healthcare Professionals 1. What is the role of a Nursing Assistant (NA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)? Performs tasks such as taking vital signs and providing or assisting with routine personal care. 2. What is the role of a Registered Nurse (RN)? Coordinates, manages, and provides skilled nursing care, including administering special treatments and giving medication as prescribed by a physician. 3. What is the role of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)? Administers medication and gives treatments. 4. What is the role of a Physician or Doctor (MD or DO)? Diagnoses disease or disability and prescribes treatment. 5. What is the role of a Physical Therapist (PT)? Evaluates a person and develops a treatment plan to increase movement, improve circulation, promote healing, reduce pain, prevent disability, and help regain or maintain mobility. Assistive Devices 6. What are assistive or adaptive devices? Special equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to perform activities of daily living. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) or Speech Therapist 7. What is the role of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) or Speech Therapist? Identifies communication disorders, addresses factors involved in recovery, and develops a plan of care to meet recovery goals. Registered Dietitian (RDT) 8. What is the role of a Registered Dietitian (RDT)? Creates diets for residents with special needs. Medical Social Worker (MSW) 9. What is the role of a Medical Social Worker (MSW)? Determines residents' needs and helps get them support services, such as counseling or financial assistance. Activities Director 10. What is the role of an Activities Director? Plans activities for residents to help them socialize and stay physically and mentally active. Resident and Family 11. Who has a right to make decisions about their own care? The resident and their family have the right to make decisions about their own care and plan care with the care team. Charting 12. What is charting? Writing down important information and observations about residents. Professionalism 13. What does professionalism refer to? Professionalism refers to how a person behaves when they are on the job, including how they dress, the words they use, and the things they talk about. Personal vs. Professional 14. How do personal and professional responsibilities differ? Personal responsibilities relate to life outside one's job, such as family, friends, and homelife, while professional responsibilities refer to one's work or job. Compassionate Care 15. What does compassionate care entail? Compassionate care involves being caring, concerned, considerate, empathetic, and understanding towards patients and their families. Other Important Concepts