Chapter 8  The Health Care Team

1. Chapter 8The Health Care Team

2. The Health Care Team • All personnel in all departments of any type of health care facility • Primary function of a health care facility is to deliver health care services • Patients, clients, or residents are the center of attention

3. Personal Qualities of Health Care Workers • Reliable and dependable • Flexible with scheduling • Focus on patients and their needs • Must be able to function as a member of a team

4. Organizational Arrangements Health Care Networks and Systems • Made up of facilities or organizations that provide a variety of health services • Board of trustees • Administrator for each facility

5. Organizational Arrangements Hospitals • Hospital administrator is responsible for operation of the facility. • Chain of command • Board of directors or trustees • Major areas of service • Business, nursing, medical services, human resources, and support services

6. Members of the Health Care Team • Administrator • Aides/assistants • Case manager • Dentist (DDS) • Dietitian • EKG technician • Health care coordinator • Laboratory assistant • Laboratory technicians • LP/VN • Medical doctor (MD) • Medical technologist • Nurse aide/assistant • Nurse practitioner • Nurse clinical specialist • Occupational therapist

7. Members of the Health Care Team • Optometrist (OD) • Osteopathic physician/surgeon (DO) • Pathologist • Pharmacist • Physical therapist • Physician’s assistant • Radiologic technologist (RT) • Registered nurse (RN) • Respiratory care practitioner (RCP) • Risk manager • Social worker • Unit manager

8. The Nursing Team Clinical Nurse Specialist • Plans care and solves clinical problems Nurse Managers • Responsible for total operation of unit • Plans, supervises, and evaluates nursing care in a single patient unit

9. The Nursing Team Team Leader • Directly involved in providing patient care • Responsible for care provided by team • Supervises staff • Evaluates care • Teaches patients and staff • Conducts patient care conferences

10. The Nursing Team Professional Staff Nurses • RNs who have direct responsibility for patient care Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses • Provide direct nursing service under direct supervision of licensed physician, professional nurse, or dentist in most states

11. The Nursing Team Nursing Assistants • Help RNs and LP/VNs by providing basic nursing care Unlicensed Assistive Personnel • Taught to perform specific tasks • Receive little training • Learn clinical skills • Clinical instructors legally responsible for actions

12. The Nursing Team Health Unit Coordinators • Provide secretarial services for a nursing unit Multiskilled Workers • Patient care technician • Must be prepared to provide safe and competent care • Most nursing organizations oppose patient care technicians in health care facilities

13. Multidisciplinary Team • Health care workers working together to • Solve problems • Increase efficiency • Decrease lengths of stay • Enhance quality of care • Provides a single point of contact for the patient • Concerned with a patient’s diagnosis and other health needs

14. Nursing Care Models Case Method • A nurse is responsible for the entire care of one or more patients for one shift. Functional Nursing • Each team member is assigned a specific function or task. Total Patient Care • An RN or LP/VN is assigned to provide all care a patient needs.

15. Nursing Care Models Team Nursing • Team members perform duties for which they are best prepared • Small number of patients, team conference, and team planning Primary Nursing • Professional nurse totally responsible for patient(s) from admission to discharge • Care provided by associate nurses

16. The Changing Roles of Nurses in Health Care • Impact of shortages of professional nurses • Increasing cost of nursing salaries leads to reduced nursing staff • New titles • Nurse practitioner • Clinical nurse specialist • Primary nurse • Nurse-developed initiatives

17. Question • Is the following statement true or false? The health care team is made up of nurses and doctors.

18. Answer • False • Rationale: The health care team is made up of all personnel in all departments of a health care facility.

19. Question • A clinical nurse specialist: A. Plans care and solves clinical problems B. Supervises staff C. Responsible for the total operation of his or her unit D. Conducts patient care conferences

20. Answer • A. Plans care and solves clinical problems • Rationale: A team leader supervises the staff. A nurse manager is responsible for the total operation of his or her unit. Team leaders conduct patient care conferences.

21. Question • Is the following statement true or false? In the nursing care model known as functional, a nurse is responsible for the entire care of one or more patients for one shift.

22. Answer • False • Rationale: In the case method model a nurse is responsible for the entire care of one or more patients for one shift. In the functional model, each team member is assigned a specific function or task.