A long-term care nurse is a nurse who provides nursing care to people who have been sick or disabled for a long time. This type of nurse will frequently devote his or her services to the elderly. Some work with people of all ages who require medical attention due to an ongoing illness. This type of nurse can work in any medical facility that provides long-term care to patients, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities. To work as a long-term care nurse, you must first complete an accredited nursing program and obtain a nursing license.
The responsibilities of a long-term care nurse are largely determined the patient’s needs. A nurse may occasionally assist people who are suffering from a chronic illness. A chronic illness is one that lasts for an extended period of time. Even if the person isn’t sick enough to stay in a hospital, he or she still requires medical attention. The nurse may visit the patient in his or her home and provide varying degrees of medical assistance when providing outpatient care.
A long-term care nurse may work in an assisted living facility in many cases. Patients who are unable to live independently due to age or medical conditions may be housed in the facility. At the same time, these people do not require constant medical attention or supervision. In this setting, long-term care nurses may deliver medications and ensure that patients are taking them as prescribed. He or she may also check the resident’s vital signs on a regular basis, such as blood pressure and oxygen levels.
If a long-term care nurse works in a nursing home, he or she may be able to help elderly patients with all of their daily activities. This position is sometimes held geriatric nurses. Bathing, feeding, and dressing the patients are all tasks that the nurse may assist with. He or she may also help with wound care, such as changing dressings. In most cases, the nurse will be in charge of administering medications, which may include intravenous medications.
As part of their daily treatment, many patients with chronic illnesses will receive physical therapy. Physical therapy is commonly given to patients to ensure that their joints and muscles remain functional. Many sick and disabled people are unable to move as freely as they once could. Physical therapy exercises may be assisted a long-term care nurse. The nurse, as a trained health care professional who is familiar with his or her patient’s limitations, will be able to incorporate exercises that are both safe and beneficial to the patient’s health.