 |
|
|
y providing routine patient care, nursing
assistants play a vital |
|
role in health care delivery. Working
under the supervision |
|
of a registered nurse, licensed practical
nurse, or physician, they |
|
answer patient call lights, serve meals, and
check blood pressure, |
|
temperature, pulse and breathing.
Assistants visit with patients while |
|
helping them change position, walk, bathe and
eat. They generally |
|
have a great deal of patient contact and are
important in developing |
|
patient relationships that foster trust.
Those who work in nursing |
|
homes are called geriatric assistants.
Some patients are discharged |
|
from hospitals needing additional home care.
Nursing assistants, also |
|
called home health aides, allow these people to
recover at home rather |
|
than in hospitals or nursing homes. They
assist with medications, change |
|
linens, and teach family members to care for
the patient during recovery.
|
