Specialisations

Areas of specialist nursing practice include mental health nursing, aged care, cancer/oncology nursing, critical care, peri-operative, community health, rural and remote area nursing, policy, research, management, education and workplace health and safety.

Work Conditions

In hospitals, nurses usually work according to a rotating seven-day roster which includes morning, afternoon and night shifts, weekends and public holidays. In other areas, the hours depend on the service.

Personal Requirements

• good communication skills

• able to assume responsibility and a leadership role

• able to take the initiative in emergencies

• tolerance, patience and tact in dealing with people from different countries and of different cultures

• able to work both independently and as part of a team

• mentally and physically fit.

I. Match the notions with their explanations:

……….. a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it.

……….. reliance on and confidence in the truth, worth, reliability, etc., of a person or thing; faith.

…………. is a quality of a person who doesn’t lie.

………... being accountable for one's actions and decisions

………... concentrated direction of the mind, esp. to a problem or task.

Honesty, compassion, attention, responsibility, trust.

II. Translate into English:

Для ефективного виконання професійних функцій медсестра, крім поглиблених спеціальних знань, повинна володіти рядом спеціальних психологічних якостей. Високі вимоги ставляться насамперед до моральних якостей її особистості. Медсестра несе моральну відповідальність перед хворим та його близькими. Усвідомлення свого великого людського обов'язку перед людиною, яка страждає від хвороби, формує такі якості, як уважність, чуйність, приязність, терплячість та співчуття. Діяльність медсестри вимагає від неї володіння комунікативними якостями, які забезпечують ефективну взаємодію з хворими.

Topic 44. The Working Day of a Nurse

The Working Day of a Nurse

The working day of a nurse begins very early. At 7 am she takes the patients' temperature and writes it down in temperature charts. She must also give the patients some medicines such as ointments, different pills, sedatives and tonics, vitamins and sleeping draughts, laxative drugs, tablets for headache and carries out other doctor's prescriptions.

She opens the windows and airs the wards. At 9 o'clock the doctor in charge begins to make his morning round at the department and the nurse follows the doctor. She gives the doctor all the necessary information about the patients. While the physician examines all his patients the nurse must listen to his prescriptions very attentively. Sometimes either the patient's blood test must be taken or the X-ray examination of the lungs should be done. When it is necessary the nurse makes the stomach X- ray. Also she makes the analysis of stomach juice and takes the blood pressure. After that she must show the doctor the patient's blood count.

The nurse must also pay special attention to the patient's diet. Sometimes she brushes the patient's sheets or changes them if it is necessary. She can also bring a basin and wash the patient's face and hands. The nurse must also change the bed-pan. She puts mustard-plasters or cupping-glasses and makes intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injections.

The nurse must supply the professional medical help. She has to remember that psychological support is also important. Most of the nurse's work can be learnt by practice. So every nurse must be very attentive and try to observe any changes in a patient's condition.