1|Page
Sorrentino's Canadian Textbook for the
Support Worker (Summary all Chapters)
,2|Page
Contents
Chapter 1: The Role of the Support Worker ...................................................................... 13
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 14
1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 14
1.2 The Purpose of the Support Worker’s Role ................................................................ 14
1.3 Work Settings and Clients............................................................................................. 14
1.4 Members of the Health Care Team ............................................................................... 15
1.5 Responsibilities and Accountability ............................................................................ 16
1.6 Professional Boundaries and Ethics ........................................................................... 16
1.7 Qualities of an Effective Support Worker .................................................................... 16
1.8 The PSW’s Contribution to Quality Care ..................................................................... 17
Case Example ....................................................................................................................... 17
1.9 Limits of the PSW Role .................................................................................................. 18
1.10 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 18
Review Questions................................................................................................................. 18
Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 19
Chapter 2: The Canadian Health Care System.................................................................. 19
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 19
2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 19
2.2 Historical Overview ........................................................................................................ 20
2.3 The Five Principles of the Canada Health Act ............................................................ 20
2.4 Federal and Provincial Responsibilities ...................................................................... 21
2.5 Levels of Health Care ..................................................................................................... 21
2.6 Types of Health Care Services ..................................................................................... 22
2.7 Health Care Settings in Canada .................................................................................... 23
2.8 Funding of Health Care in Canada ............................................................................... 23
2.9 The Role of the Personal Support Worker in the Health System ............................. 23
Case Example ....................................................................................................................... 24
2.10 Current Challenges and Trends ................................................................................. 24
2.11 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 25
Review Questions................................................................................................................. 25
Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 25
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Chapter 3: Ethics, Values, and Professionalism .............................................................. 26
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 26
3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 26
3.2 Understanding Ethics and Values ................................................................................ 26
3.3 Ethical Principles in Health Care .................................................................................. 27
3.4 Professionalism in Support Work ................................................................................ 28
3.5 Confidentiality and Privacy ........................................................................................... 28
3.6 Professional Boundaries ............................................................................................... 29
3.7 Ethical Dilemmas and DecisionMaking ....................................................................... 29
3.8 Cultural Sensitivity and Equity ..................................................................................... 30
3.9 Professional Accountability .......................................................................................... 30
3.10 Case Example ............................................................................................................... 30
3.11 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 31
Review Questions................................................................................................................. 31
Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 31
Chapter 4: Effective Communication in Health Care ....................................................... 32
4.1 Introduction to Communication.................................................................................... 32
4.2 The Communication Process........................................................................................ 32
4.3 Types of Communication .............................................................................................. 33
4.4 Barriers to Effective Communication........................................................................... 33
4.5 Active Listening and Empathy ...................................................................................... 33
4.6 Communication in the Healthcare Team ..................................................................... 34
4.7 Documentation and RecordKeeping ............................................................................ 34
4.8 Communicating with Clients and Families.................................................................. 34
4.9 Confidentiality and Professional Boundaries ............................................................. 35
4.10 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 35
4.11 Review Questions ........................................................................................................ 35
Chapter 5: Infection Control and Safety ............................................................................ 36
5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 36
5.2 Understanding Microorganisms ................................................................................... 36
5.3 The Chain of Infection.................................................................................................... 37
5.4 Routes of Transmission ................................................................................................ 37
5.5 Infection Prevention Practices (Medical Asepsis)...................................................... 37
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5.6 Standard Precautions .................................................................................................... 38
5.7 TransmissionBased Precautions ................................................................................. 38
5.8 Safety in the Workplace ................................................................................................. 38
5.9 Body Mechanics and Safe Lifting................................................................................. 39
5.10 Responding to Emergencies....................................................................................... 39
5.11 The Support Worker’s Role ......................................................................................... 40
5.12 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 40
5.13 Review Questions ........................................................................................................ 40
Chapter 6: Body Systems and Basic Anatomy ................................................................. 40
6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 41
6.2 Levels of Body Organization......................................................................................... 41
6.3 The Major Body Systems .............................................................................................. 41
6.4 Homeostasis ................................................................................................................... 44
6.5 AgeRelated Changes ..................................................................................................... 44
6.6 The Support Worker’s Role ........................................................................................... 44
6.7 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 45
6.8 Review Questions .......................................................................................................... 45
Chapter 7: Nutrition and Hydration .................................................................................... 45
7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 45
7.2 Understanding Nutrition ................................................................................................ 46
7.3 Canada’s Food Guide .................................................................................................... 46
7.4 Factors Affecting Nutrition............................................................................................ 47
7.5 Hydration ......................................................................................................................... 47
7.6 Therapeutic Diets ........................................................................................................... 48
7.7 Assisting with Meals ...................................................................................................... 48
7.8 Feeding Clients with Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia) ........................................ 49
7.9 Observing and Reporting .............................................................................................. 49
7.10 The Support Worker’s Role ......................................................................................... 49
7.11 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 50
7.12 Review Questions ........................................................................................................ 50
Chapter 8: Infection Control and Prevention ........................................................................ 50
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 50
8.1 Understanding Infection ................................................................................................ 50
Sorrentino's Canadian Textbook for the
Support Worker (Summary all Chapters)
,2|Page
Contents
Chapter 1: The Role of the Support Worker ...................................................................... 13
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 14
1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 14
1.2 The Purpose of the Support Worker’s Role ................................................................ 14
1.3 Work Settings and Clients............................................................................................. 14
1.4 Members of the Health Care Team ............................................................................... 15
1.5 Responsibilities and Accountability ............................................................................ 16
1.6 Professional Boundaries and Ethics ........................................................................... 16
1.7 Qualities of an Effective Support Worker .................................................................... 16
1.8 The PSW’s Contribution to Quality Care ..................................................................... 17
Case Example ....................................................................................................................... 17
1.9 Limits of the PSW Role .................................................................................................. 18
1.10 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 18
Review Questions................................................................................................................. 18
Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 19
Chapter 2: The Canadian Health Care System.................................................................. 19
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 19
2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 19
2.2 Historical Overview ........................................................................................................ 20
2.3 The Five Principles of the Canada Health Act ............................................................ 20
2.4 Federal and Provincial Responsibilities ...................................................................... 21
2.5 Levels of Health Care ..................................................................................................... 21
2.6 Types of Health Care Services ..................................................................................... 22
2.7 Health Care Settings in Canada .................................................................................... 23
2.8 Funding of Health Care in Canada ............................................................................... 23
2.9 The Role of the Personal Support Worker in the Health System ............................. 23
Case Example ....................................................................................................................... 24
2.10 Current Challenges and Trends ................................................................................. 24
2.11 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 25
Review Questions................................................................................................................. 25
Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 25
,3|Page
Chapter 3: Ethics, Values, and Professionalism .............................................................. 26
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 26
3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 26
3.2 Understanding Ethics and Values ................................................................................ 26
3.3 Ethical Principles in Health Care .................................................................................. 27
3.4 Professionalism in Support Work ................................................................................ 28
3.5 Confidentiality and Privacy ........................................................................................... 28
3.6 Professional Boundaries ............................................................................................... 29
3.7 Ethical Dilemmas and DecisionMaking ....................................................................... 29
3.8 Cultural Sensitivity and Equity ..................................................................................... 30
3.9 Professional Accountability .......................................................................................... 30
3.10 Case Example ............................................................................................................... 30
3.11 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 31
Review Questions................................................................................................................. 31
Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 31
Chapter 4: Effective Communication in Health Care ....................................................... 32
4.1 Introduction to Communication.................................................................................... 32
4.2 The Communication Process........................................................................................ 32
4.3 Types of Communication .............................................................................................. 33
4.4 Barriers to Effective Communication........................................................................... 33
4.5 Active Listening and Empathy ...................................................................................... 33
4.6 Communication in the Healthcare Team ..................................................................... 34
4.7 Documentation and RecordKeeping ............................................................................ 34
4.8 Communicating with Clients and Families.................................................................. 34
4.9 Confidentiality and Professional Boundaries ............................................................. 35
4.10 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 35
4.11 Review Questions ........................................................................................................ 35
Chapter 5: Infection Control and Safety ............................................................................ 36
5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 36
5.2 Understanding Microorganisms ................................................................................... 36
5.3 The Chain of Infection.................................................................................................... 37
5.4 Routes of Transmission ................................................................................................ 37
5.5 Infection Prevention Practices (Medical Asepsis)...................................................... 37
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5.6 Standard Precautions .................................................................................................... 38
5.7 TransmissionBased Precautions ................................................................................. 38
5.8 Safety in the Workplace ................................................................................................. 38
5.9 Body Mechanics and Safe Lifting................................................................................. 39
5.10 Responding to Emergencies....................................................................................... 39
5.11 The Support Worker’s Role ......................................................................................... 40
5.12 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 40
5.13 Review Questions ........................................................................................................ 40
Chapter 6: Body Systems and Basic Anatomy ................................................................. 40
6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 41
6.2 Levels of Body Organization......................................................................................... 41
6.3 The Major Body Systems .............................................................................................. 41
6.4 Homeostasis ................................................................................................................... 44
6.5 AgeRelated Changes ..................................................................................................... 44
6.6 The Support Worker’s Role ........................................................................................... 44
6.7 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 45
6.8 Review Questions .......................................................................................................... 45
Chapter 7: Nutrition and Hydration .................................................................................... 45
7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 45
7.2 Understanding Nutrition ................................................................................................ 46
7.3 Canada’s Food Guide .................................................................................................... 46
7.4 Factors Affecting Nutrition............................................................................................ 47
7.5 Hydration ......................................................................................................................... 47
7.6 Therapeutic Diets ........................................................................................................... 48
7.7 Assisting with Meals ...................................................................................................... 48
7.8 Feeding Clients with Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia) ........................................ 49
7.9 Observing and Reporting .............................................................................................. 49
7.10 The Support Worker’s Role ......................................................................................... 49
7.11 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 50
7.12 Review Questions ........................................................................................................ 50
Chapter 8: Infection Control and Prevention ........................................................................ 50
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................. 50
8.1 Understanding Infection ................................................................................................ 50
