Unit1 IntroductiontoHealthCare

Unit 1
Introduction to Health Care

Nurse Aide I Course
DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 1

As a member of the Nursing

Department, the nurse aide plays an
important role in resident care.
The nurse aide spends more time
in direct contact with the resident than
any other member of the health care
team.
(continued)
A knowledge of the role, function,
legal limitations, expected qualities,
personal habits and obligations is
important to provide quality care.
This unit also explores the types,
purposes and organizational
structure of health care facilities that
employ nurse aides.
1.0 Examine the role of the nurse
aide.

Role of the Nurse Aide
• Important in the care of people who

are ill & unable to care for
themselves
• Assistant to the licensed nurse
• Provide physical care and emotional
support

Role of the Nurse Aide
(continued)
• Contribute to the resident’s comfort

• Make observations and report
• Directed and supervised by
licensed nurses

The Nurse Aide Works In A Variety
Of Settings
• Hospitals
• Long term care facilities
• Rehabilitation centers
• Clinics
• Hospices
• Psychiatric facilities
• Home care
1.2 Discuss the functions of the
nurse aide in providing care to
residents.
1.2.1 Identify 22 functions of the nurse
aide.

Functions of Nurse Aide
Help residents with personal needs:
• Hygiene
• Safety
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Elimination
• Mobility
(continued)
Help residents with personal needs
(continued):
• Communication
• Socialization activities
• Comfort measures
• Restorative procedures

(continued)
Assist with resident care responsibilities:
• Collecting specimens
• Measuring and recording vital signs
• Transporting residents
• Environmental cleanliness
• Cleaning and care of equipment

(continued)
Assist with resident care responsibilities
(continued):
• Standard precautions
• Fire drills and disaster drills
• Answering call signals
• Observation of resident response to
care
Functions of the Nurse Aide
(continued)
Assist with resident care responsibilities
(continued):
• Measuring and recording
height/weight
• Intake and output
• Admission and discharge of
residents
1.3 List eight legal limitations for the
nurse aide.

Legal Limitations of Nurse Aide
• Nurse aides do not do sterile
procedures.
• Nurse aides do not give information
about the diagnosis or treatment
plans to the resident or his/her family.
• Nurse aides do not give medications.
• Nurse aides do not insert or remove
tubes from the resident’s body.
(continued)
• Nurse aides do not take oral or
telephone orders from a physician
• Nurse aides do not diagnose or
prescribe treatments or medications
for residents.
• Nurse aides do not supervise the
work of other nurse aides.
(continued)
• Nurse aides do not agree to do

something beyond the nurse aide’s
scope of practice as defined by the
North Carolina Board of Nursing.

1.4 Describe the personal qualities
and characteristics of the nurse
aide.
1.4.1 Discuss the importance of
punctuality and commitment on
the job.
Qualities and Characteristics of the
Nurse Aide
• Cheerful
• Enthusiastic
• Responsible
• Considerate
• Courteous
• Cooperative
Nurse Aide (continued)
• Dependable
• Empathetic
• Honest
• Patient
• Respectful
• Trustworthy

Nurse Aide (continued)
• Willing to learn
• Tactful
• Competent
• Committed to job
• Punctual
• Self-aware

1.5 Suggest ways for the nurse aide
to maintain acceptable personal
hygiene and exhibit appropriate
dress practices.

Factors That Promote Good Health
• Rest and sleep
• Diet
• Exercise
• Good posture and body mechanics
• Eye examinations
• Dental care
• No use of drugs, alcohol or cigarettes
Personal Hygiene Practices
• Taking a daily bath or shower

• Using deodorants/antiperspirants
• Brushing teeth and using
mouthwash
• Keeping hair clean and neatly
styled
• Cleaning and maintaining short,
smooth nails
Personal Hygiene Practices
(continued)
• Washing hands after using bathroom

• Wearing clean underwear, socks or
stockings and uniform daily
• Do not use products having odors
that might be offensive to residents

Professional Dress Practices
• Uniform clean, pressed

• Shoes polished and comfortable
• Shoe laces clean
• Stockings without holes/runs
• Jewelry limited to watch and
wedding ring

Professional Dress Practices
(continued)
• Name tag or photo ID tag worn

• Make-up worn in moderation
• Strong perfumes/aftershave lotions
not used

1.6 List obligations of the nurse aide
as a member of the health care
team.

Guidelines For Working With Others
• Know the responsibilities, functions

and role expectations listed in job
description
• Display qualities and characteristics
befitting a nurse aide
• Be prompt in reporting to work

(continued)
• Notify facility of absence ASAP

• Display good health and hygiene
practices
• Follow facility dress code policy
• Practice ethical & legal actions
• Direct questions about things you
don’t understand to supervisor
(continued)
• Follow instructions and directions of
supervisor
• Display pride in appearance
• Promptly report unusual
observations to the supervisor
• Make supervisor aware of family and
resident complaints
(continued)
• Perform duties in spirit of cooperation
• Do not waste supplies and equipment
• Follow facility rules and regulations
• Be accurate in measuring, recording
and reporting
• Notify supervisor when leaving and
returning to unit

(continued)
• Assist other health care workers

willingly
• Never use supplies or equipment
belonging to the facility or resident
• Never discuss personal problems
with the residents

Resident Care Conferences
• Assist to develop/revise care plans

• Share care suggestions
• Report observations

1.7 Explain the necessity for planning
work assignments.

Work Assignments
• Made by a licensed nurse

• Based on needs of residents
and availability of staff
• Allows staff to work as team
• Includes being cooperative
and helping others when
asked

Work Assignments
(continued)
• Includes never ignoring

a resident that needs
help, is uncomfortable
or in danger

Work Assignments
(continued)
• Includes notifying
the supervisor of
unfinished
assignments
• Includes answering
call signals even
though not assigned
to the resident
Considerations For Planning
A Work Assignment
• Workload
• Resident condition
• Time
• Support services
assigned

1.7.1 Identify the need to establish
priorities when providing resident
care.

Establishing Priorities for Care
• Activities of daily living
– Meeting hygiene needs
– Positioning and
providing for exercise
– Maintaining proper
nutrition
– Providing for elimination
of wastes
(continued)
• Examples of special
procedures
– Taking vital signs
– Measuring urine

(continued)
• Support services
– Providing drinking water
– Delivering and picking up meal
trays
– Providing clean linen and making
beds
– Cleaning and caring for equipment
(continued)
• Documentation/reporting
– Presenting oral reports to
supervisor
– Writing on record if directed to do
so

1.8 Differentiate among the various
types of health care facilities and
agencies.

Long-term Care Facilities
(Nursing Homes)
• Provide health care services to
individuals unable to care for
themselves:
– elderly persons
– disabled or handicapped
persons
– people with chronic illness
(Nursing Homes)
(continued)
• Services provided
– Medical
– Nursing
– Nutritional
– Recreational/religious
– Rehabilitative
(Nursing Homes)
(continued)
• Types of care
– Home care
– Intermediate care
– Skilled care

Hospitals
• Provide care for individuals of all

ages with a broad range of health
problems

Hospitals
(continued)
• Services varied and extensive
– Diagnostic
– Medical
– Surgical
– Emergency
• Types of care: acute, chronic and
terminal care
Home Care Agencies
• Provide care in the home for people

needing health services, but not
hospitalization

Home Care Agencies
(continued)
• Services provided include:
– Nursing
– Physical therapy
– Occupational therapy
– Speech therapy
– Social services
– Nutritional and food services
– Respiratory therapy
– Homemaker services
1.9 Identify the organizational
structure of health care facilities.

Organizational Chart
• Displays chain of
command
• Shows lines of authority
• Identifies health care
worker’s position
• Identifies immediate
supervisor

Organizational Structure
• Governing body (Board of Directors)
– Responsible for provision of safe
and adequate care at a
reasonable cost
– Makes facility policies
– Delegates management
to an administrator

(continued)
• Department heads
– Have specific areas of
responsibilities
– Supervise department staff
• Finance
• Ancillary services
• Nursing
(continued)
• Medical Director
– Supervises medical staff activities
• Physicians
• Residents
• Interns

(continued)
• Director of Nursing and
Assistant DON
– Supervises nursing staff
activities
– Responsible for safe
nursing care
– Registered nurses
(continued)
• Nursing supervisor
– Assists director of nursing
– Licensed nurse
– Assigned areas of
responsibility
– Assigned to specific shift

(continued)
• Charge Nurse
– Has specific areas of
responsibility
– Responsible for
resident care in specific
area

(continued)
• Charge Nurse
– Supervises staff in specific area
• Registered nurses (RNs)
• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
• Nurse aides (NAs)


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Unit1 IntroductiontoHealthCare

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Unit 1

Introduction to Health Care

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 1

As a member of the Nursing

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 5

• Important in the care of people who

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 6

• Contribute to the resident’s comfort

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 7

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 10

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 12

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 13

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 17

• Nurse aides do not agree to do

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 20

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 24

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 25

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 27

• Taking a daily bath or shower

• Washing hands after using bathroom

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 30

• Uniform clean, pressed

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 31

• Name tag or photo ID tag worn

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 32

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 34

• Know the responsibilities, functions

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 35

• Notify facility of absence ASAP

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 38

• Assist other health care workers

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 39

• Assist to develop/revise care plans

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 40

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 42

• Made by a licensed nurse

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 43

• Includes never ignoring

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 44

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 46

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 47

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 49

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 51

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 53

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 56

• Provide care for individuals of all

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 57

• Provide care in the home for people

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 59

DHSR Approved Curriculum-Unit 1 62

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