Nursing Care on the Ward Level

more to nursing staff,on theclearly the to other various staffroles members of nursing andpersonnel in to administration.Leader:K.LEWIS,R.N.,PRESENI’ATION: Today, the concept of the functions of the psychiatric nurse is changing radically. We are lost in a maze of terms in attempting to identify these functions, and we cannot clearly define what nursing personnel actually do. Personally I hope that we will not settle on too definite a structure just yet. We do know that we want the nurse or the aide to care for the patient and we know that this simple statement entails a very complex demand. To some, care means solely providing safety and comfort. To others it means a great deal more. I would like to add that in this presentation I intend to use the words “nurse” and “aide” interchangeably in regard to their relationships with the patients. The aide can learn how to develop effective interpersonal relationships equally as well as the nurse. The aide’s role is particularly important as he is frequently the person who spends the longest period of time with the patient. He must be afforded status in patient care and be recognized as a contributing member in the general treatment program. Nursing service is concerned that a patient has adequate care, is not mistreated, and that the ward is congenial, functioning at its maximum capacity and cooperating with other departments. Nursing educators speak of meeting the patient’s emotional needs, planning his total care, beingresourceful and above all, improving the nurse’s interpersonal relationships...