Unit 2

1. Unit 2 Role of the Nursing Assistant

2. Objectives • Spell and define terms. • Identify members of the interdisciplinary health care team. • Identify members of the nursing team. • List job responsibilities of the nursing assistant.

3. Objectives • Make a chart showing your facility’s lines of authority. • Describe importance of good human relationships. • Describe legal importance of working within the established scope of nursing assistant practice.

4. Objectives • Discuss the potential for career growth and advancement, and identify opportunities for expanding the scope of nursing assistant practice. • List the ways to build productive working relationships with staff members.

5. Objectives • List rules of personal hygiene and explain the importance of a healthy mental attitude. • Describe appropriate dress for the job.

6. Interdisciplinary Health Care Team • Patient • Members of patient’s family • Physician • Nursing team • Other specialists

7. The Nursing Team • The nursing team consists of: • Registered nurses • Licensed practical (or vocational) nurses • Nursing assistants

8. The Nursing Team • Nursing team provides skilled nursing care • RNs plan and direct nursing care in cooperation with the physician’s orders • All members of the team provide direct patient care

9. Organization of Nursing Care • Primary nursing • Functional nursing • Team nursing • Partners in practice • Nursing assistant has a functional role in each

10. Primary Nursing • Care is given by an RN • Responsible for a patient’s care during his or her entire hospitalization • Licensed staff and assistants help when an RN is not on duty • RN is responsible for six to eight patients

11. Functional Nursing • Task-oriented way to organize care service • Charge nurse responsible for all patients • Others are assigned specific tasks • Medications, administering treatments, or providing hygienic care

12. Team Nursing • A team leader (usually an RN) • Determines nursing needs of patients • Team members receive assignments • From and report to the team leader

13. Team Nursing • Team nursing is successful when: • Members understand the philosophy, purposes, and goals of restorative nursing • Understand their responsibilities • Attend the care plan conference

14. Partners in Practice • RN or a primary nurse • Partnered with a nursing assistant or other team member • Team members • Work together to meet the needs of their assigned patients

15. Partners in Practice • Method combines positive aspects of team and primary nursing into the partnership model • In some facilities: • Team members work on same schedule

16. Patient Focused Care • Patient is focus of service • Goals • Limit number of people involved in patient care • Contain costs • Meet patients’ needs efficiently • Staff members are cross-trained

17. Teamwork • Successful alternative models of care are effective because they: • Promote cooperation and teamwork • Provide opportunities for growth

18. Teamwork • Learning to work with others as a member of a team • One of the most important skills to master during your nursing assistant education

19. Regulation of NA Practice • Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) • 1987 federal law regulating the education and certification of nurse aides • Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Program (NACEP) • Minimum training standards for nurse aides

20. OBRA • Give nursing assistants recognition through registration • Help define the scope of nursing assistant practice

21. OBRA • Provide better uniformity in care provided by nursing assistants • Promote educational standards for nursing assistants

22. Lines of Authority • Learn your role and line of authority within your facility • Refer to Figure 2–4

23. Lines of Authority

24. Guidelines for the Nursing Assistant • Only perform tasks you have been trained to do • Seek higher authority when necessary • Know your scope of practice • Live by it

25. Roles and Responsibilities • Nursing assistant works directly with the patient • Provide physical care and emotional support • Nursing assistant’s specific duties • Vary depending on his or her workplace

26. Personal Vocational Adjustments • Nursing assistant must be: • Willing to learn and grow • Dependable • Respectful of his or her coworkers • Empathetic, patient, and tactful with others

27. Interpersonal Relationships • Interactions between people • Patients and staff

28. Attitude • Single most important characteristic you bring to your job • Developed throughout your lifetime • Shaped by your experiences

29. Attitude • Should reflect: • Caring • Courtesy • Cooperation • Emotional control • Empathy • Tact • Patience

30. Patient Relationships • All patients are different • You should meet patients’ varying needs • You should meet families’ needs

31. Adapting to Change • Learn all you can about the change and your responsibilities • Try to understand the need for and value of the change • Find ways to adapt and accommodate to the change • Try to be open-minded and flexible

32. Change • Be a team player • Adjust your attitude • Look forward to the change • Keep your sense of humor • Make change fun

33. Change • Compensate for stress and pressure • Make time for activities you enjoy when you are off duty • View change as an opportunity for growth • Change is inevitable • But growth is optional

34. Staff Relationships • All health care workers share a single goal: • To help the patient • There is much you can do to help accomplish this goal

35. Personal Health and Hygiene • Your uniform should be appropriate, clean, and neat • You should wear an appropriate identification tag • Refer to Figure 2–10

36. Personal Health and Hygiene

37. Reducing Stress • Get sufficient rest • Practice good nutritional habits • Participate in satisfying leisure activities • Participate in stress-reducing activities