Profession nurse assistant

Nursing aids provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. Perform duties, such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, or move patients, or change linens.

Personality Type

• Social / Realistic

Tasks nurse assistant

• Observe and report changes in patient's condition.
• Apply practical intervention procedures for dementia or behavioral problems.
• Perform basic (medical) procedures such as taking blood pressure and applying and changing dressings.
• Collect specimens such as urine, faeces, or sputum.
• Assist with rehabilitation exercises and basic treatment and medications.
• Assist patients in activities such as walking, exercising, and getting in and out of bed.
• Turn and reposition bedridden patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
• Feed patients when necessary.
• Bath, groom, shave, dress, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
• Perform housekeeping activities, for example clean rooms and change linens.
• Clean and sterilize the care equipment.

Related professions nurse

• Ambulance paramedic
• Charge nurse
• Children's nurse
• Company nurse
• District nurse
• Hospital nurse
• Intensive care, recovery nurse
• Nurse, all other
• Nursing associate professional
• Private nurse
• Psychiatric nurse
• School nurse
• Theatre nurse

Knowledge

• Hygiene in a health care setting

  The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.

• Health care legislation

  The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.

• Nursing science

  The factors that influence human health and the therapeutic interventions that promote health with the purpose to improve individual`s mental and physical health.

• First aid

  The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.

• Disability care

  The specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.

• Nursing principles

  The ethics, the codes of conduct, the philosophy of nursing, the philosophy of human rights and nursing theories and concepts.

• Person centred care

  The person centered care approach involves treating patients as equal partners in the planning and developing of care, patients and their needs being at the core of all decisions.

Skills

• Provide professional care in nursing

  Provide professional care, adequate to the health and nursing care needs of the individuals, families and groups, taking into account the scientific developments, as well as the quality and safety requirements established in accordance with the legal/professional conduct regulations.

• Communicate with nursing staff

  Communicate with nurses and other health professionals ensuring the delivery of quality and safe patient care.

• Address problems critically

  Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.

• Respond to changing situations in health care

  Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

• Accept own accountability

  Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

• Monitor basic patients signs

  Monitor basic patient vital signs and other signs, taking actions as indicated by the nurse and report to her/him as appropriate.

• Apply sustainability principles in health care

  Take into account the sustainability principles in healthcare and strive for the rational use of resources.

• Identify abnormalities

  Identify what is normal and abnormal concerning the well-being of patients, through experience and instruction, reporting to the nurses what is abnormal.

• Apply health sciences

  Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

• Communicate effectively in healthcare

  Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.

• Work with nursing staff

  Work together with nurses and other health professionals in supporting the delivery of basic patient care.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Implement nursing care

  Implement nursing care when treating patients in order to improve professional practice.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Support nurses

  Support nurses with the preparation and delivery of diagnostic and treatment interventions.

• Plan nursing care

  Plan care, defining nursing objectives, deciding on nursing measures to be taken, paying attention to health education and preventative measures and ensuring continuity and fullness of care.

• Apply person-centred care

  Treat individuals as partners in planning, developing and assessing care, to make sure it is appropriate for their needs. Put them and their caregivers at the heart of all decisions.

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

• Apply nursing care in long-term care

  Enable the promotion and the development of nursing care in long term care, co-morbidity and in situations of dependency in order to maintain individuals’ personal autonomy and relationships with the environment in each moment of the health/illness process.

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Promote inclusion

  Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

• Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

  Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

• Provide basic support to patients

  Support patients and citizens with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, comfort, mobilisation and feeding needs.

• Solve problems in healthcare

  Carry out actions, by previously identifying and analysing problems, that facilitate seeking the most beneficial solution for the patient, the family and the community, reaching objectives, improving outcomes and keeping the quality of their work.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Implement fundamentals of nursing

  Implement the nursing theoretical and methodological fundamentals and principles, basic nursing interventions on scientific evidence and the resources available.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB