The acute care environment differs from the long-term care and home support environments in various ways. The acute care environment is usually different because you as the Health Care Assistant will likely care for clients before and after surgery. And if you are working in long-term care, you may care for residents who have returned from acute care where you will be providing basic care along with some post-operative care.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, the successful student will be able to:
- Identify lines and tubes that may be encountered in acute care.
- Describe how to provide care for clients with additional lines and tubes.
- Describe five general guidelines used while caring for clients with drainage systems.
- Identify when to seek assistance.
- Understand the role of the HCA in emergency response.
Overview
The majority of HCAs work in non-acute settings, such as long-term care and assisted living facilities. In these environments, older residents and those recovering from an illness often need help with the activities of daily living. Because people today live longer, the need for HCAs to help them, regardless of setting, is more prevalent than ever. When a client is treated in an acute care setting and needs assistance with the activities of daily living, the acute HCA can support the client. Health Care Assistants help clients with dressing, bathing, using the bathroom, feeding, and mobility, and they may change sheets and bedpans, too. Health Care Assistants must be caring and understanding in dealing with clients who may not be able to communicate their needs. Additionally, HCAs must be able to safely lift and transfer clients, and help them walk and get in and out of bed.
The HCA is responsible for assisting other members of the healthcare team within various hospital departments and providing clients with help with their basic daily activities. The HCA will also observe both physical and mental conditions, help with admission and discharge processes, lab skills, and collection of basic vitals and specimens. This chapter will assist you in becoming familiar with the different aspects of the acute care setting, including different technology and clients with more complex medical needs. This unit includes a brief overview of the standardized emergency code system used in British Columbia to help prepare you to work in any environment.
Tubes to drain fluids from the body; (Hemovacs, penrose, percutaneous drains, Foley catheters, nephrostomy).
A flexible plastic tube inserted through the nostrils, down the nasopharynx, and into the stomach or the upper portion of the small intestine.
Bypass the stomach to administer medications or nutrition through a a vein.
any systematic response to an unexpected or dangerous occurrence with the goal to quickly control the situation and lessen the impact on people and the environment.
Announced coded messages to alert hospital staff to various types of on-site emergencies intended share essential information quickly and prevent visitor stress or panic.
