Providing healthcare is a top priority in a medical staff. Each member has a vital role to play in a patient’s recovery. Among these members, nurses are highly needed to continuously monitor and update the team with regards to the patient’s medical status. Any changes should be reported for immediate treatment.
Under the direct supervision of a registered nurse, nursing aides are responsible in closely monitoring the patients since they have the most time spent and contact with them. A nurse aide’s responsibilities may differ depending on the healthcare facility. For example, those who work in a hospital may need to provide basic personal care for the patients. Nurse aides in private homes may work as a companion for the patient doing house errands and even housekeeping. Though they can function very differently, nurse aides have fixed responsibilities which they are highly capable of.
· Attending to the patient’s personal care
Some patients may find it troublesome to do things on their own, most especially those who have just had a surgery, an injury or plainly because of old age. What nurse aides do is to provide assistance when they need to use the bathroom, take a shower, putting some clothes on, and even maintaining their oral health.
· Feeding and transfer of patients
There are times that patients can no longer have the strength to feed themselves because of sickness or an injury. Nurse aides assist patients when they need to eat and drink. They are also in charge of changing the linens or accompany the patient to the x-ray room. Nurse aides also help patients to move them from their beds. Most workplace injuries are common among nurse aides because of the constant lifting they do to their patients.
· Monitoring
Since they have the most contact with their patients, nurse aides are responsible in monitoring patient’s health status. They are usually the first people to observe changes with their patients. Taking their temperature and recording their viral signs are reported to the attending physicians. They are very detailed in keeping track of their patient’s progress.
· Cleaning
Though healthcare facilities have paid staff for sanitation, it is the nurse aides who maintain the cleanliness in their patient’s room. They change linens, clear the dishes once meals are done, and even tidy bedpans all for the patient’s care.
· Medicine Administration
Some nurse aides are given permission to administer medication as advised by the attending physician. If a patient is not showing any progress with his or her dosage, nurse aides, however, do not have the authority to change it. Nurse aides can also perform changing bandages and even assist physicians during a patient’s therapy.
Attending to their patient’s needs, especially when involving transfers and lifting, can pose danger in their workplaces. This is the reason why nurse aides have to undergo training for them to learn the proper lifting techniques. This ensures that both the patient and the nursing aide condition. Training is also required as some diseases can be very infectious. Nurse aides need to understand that their jobs expose them to different kinds of infections so awareness and following protocol is a must for this profession.
· Attending to the patient’s personal care
Some patients may find it troublesome to do things on their own, most especially those who have just had a surgery, an injury or plainly because of old age. What nurse aides do is to provide assistance when they need to use the bathroom, take a shower, putting some clothes on, and even maintaining their oral health.
· Feeding and transfer of patients
There are times that patients can no longer have the strength to feed themselves because of sickness or an injury. Nurse aides assist patients when they need to eat and drink. They are also in charge of changing the linens or accompany the patient to the x-ray room. Nurse aides also help patients to move them from their beds. Most workplace injuries are common among nurse aides because of the constant lifting they do to their patients.
· Monitoring
Since they have the most contact with their patients, nurse aides are responsible in monitoring patient’s health status. They are usually the first people to observe changes with their patients. Taking their temperature and recording their viral signs are reported to the attending physicians. They are very detailed in keeping track of their patient’s progress.
· Cleaning
Though healthcare facilities have paid staff for sanitation, it is the nurse aides who maintain the cleanliness in their patient’s room. They change linens, clear the dishes once meals are done, and even tidy bedpans all for the patient’s care.
· Medicine Administration
Some nurse aides are given permission to administer medication as advised by the attending physician. If a patient is not showing any progress with his or her dosage, nurse aides, however, do not have the authority to change it. Nurse aides can also perform changing bandages and even assist physicians during a patient’s therapy.
Attending to their patient’s needs, especially when involving transfers and lifting, can pose danger in their workplaces. This is the reason why nurse aides have to undergo training for them to learn the proper lifting techniques. This ensures that both the patient and the nursing aide condition. Training is also required as some diseases can be very infectious. Nurse aides need to understand that their jobs expose them to different kinds of infections so awareness and following protocol is a must for this profession.
