Roles of a Nurse in a Nursing Home

ROLES OF A NURSE IN A NURSING HOME

INTRODUCTION

In this essay, the writer aims to outline the roles of a nurse in a nursing home. She plans patient care from personal hygiene, medication, therapy, dietary needs or nutrition care, evaluate their progress and make adjustments when necessary or when there is need. The nurse may have to manage a team of health care assistants and therefore is responsible for their health and safety as well as that of the patients. The nurse has to be competent to be able to undertake her duties.

After receiving handover, duties such as personal hygiene and nutrition care may be delegated to health care assistants, ensuring that professional practice is maintained for the safety and comfort of the patients. Sometimes the nurse may provide personal hygiene care, depending on staffing levels. It is her duty to make sure that all the equipment being used whilst she is in charge is in good working order, as she is responsible and accountable for the patients in her care (Nursing and Midwifery Council code 2010).

She monitors vital signs, which is checking body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate and blood pressure (www.healthsystem.virginia.edu). She will administer medication, some oral (by mouth) and some intravenously, which means directly into the veins via an injection, managing pain for those who are at the end of their life, making sure they are comfortable. She checks progress on wounds such as pressure sores or broken skin, considering that most of the residents may have poor to no mobility (www.nhs.uk), and change dressings. She will fill in some chats for those being monitored for fluid intake or 2 hourly turns for those bedridden to minimise risk of pressure sores. She will test urine samples for those with symptoms of urine infection (urinary tract infection).

She attends meetings to discuss patient care plans where the patient's progress is evaluated and changes are made when needed. She may liaise with other practitioners like speech and language therapist, physiotherapist and other therapists for as and when the need for their services is identified in the care of the patient. The nurse may conduct some of the range of motion exercises. This could be engaging in small exercises like lifting and lowering legs after hip operation.

She keeps a record of all the care that was provided for all the patients under her care. This may include food and fluid intake charts, bowel movements, their interaction with the nurse and others, refusal of medication and a lot more. She makes note of her observations and concerns. This information is handed over to the next shift that takes over from her.

In conclusion, the nurse should be competent, which is defined as having "knowledge,