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Nursing Facilities Personnel
Nursing facilities provide the services of a variety of full-time and consultant
staff specialists. The numbers and types of personnel will depend on the needs of the
residents. An administrator serves as the top manager of the facility. This person
has special education and training in long-term care and must be licensed in the state
of Idaho. Each nursing facility is required to have a licensed administrator.
Nursing personnel are available around the clock. A director of nurses heads the nursing
department. Licensed practical and registered nurses provide twenty-four-hour coverage.
When you tour a facility, look to see if the nursing staff is interacting with residents,
answering call signals quickly, and talking with the residents. If special treatments or
nursing measures are needed, ask if they will be available.
Activities are provided in all facilities. Ask to speak with the activity coordinator
and find out what types of individual and group activities are available. Social services
may be provided by the facility staff or through an outside agency. Ask about social services.
The dietary department is under the direction of a food services supervisor or dietitian. A
dietitian is available to perform nutritional assessments and design special diets.
Other specialists may also be on staff or available on a consultant basis: medical records
technicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, psychiatric
personnel, medical director and consultant pharmacist, podiatrists, and dentists. It is important
to find out what specialists you will need and to make sure the facility has them or is able to
provide their services.
Nursing facilities also employ environmental, maintenance and housekeeping personnel for
sanitation and safety.
The most important thing to look for in a nursing facility is the kind of people who care
for the residents. People are what nursing care is all about.
The elderly resident often has different needs than the younger or convalescent resident.
The ambulatory resident has needs different from those who cannot walk without assistance.
Remember that you can't change the resident to fit the facility -- you must pick the facility
to fit the resident. |
