|
The role of Nursing Division:
|
|
Palm Beach County Division of Nursing Administration is
responsible for assuring that nurses are licensed and competent in their field of expertise. Each nurse goes through a Public Health Orientation and is kept updated about clinical
and Public Health Nursing practice. This is done through continuing education offerings in the form of seminars, teleconferences (satellite downlinks) or videos from the Nursing
Library. Nurses from other places of employment, as well as students are invited to participate.
Call
(561) 355-3145
for more information.
|
|
Case Management
|
|
This is a major service that nurses provide, especially in the
non-clinical settings such as the patients home. This service requires that the nurse understand all the health needs of her patient and then tries to connect them with the appropriate care.
If they have transportation problems or lack food this interferes with the health care. The nurse intercedes with different agencies to procure the most appropriate services available.
|
|
Consultation
|
|
There are nurses that are available to the general public to
answer questions and give information about "communicable diseases", Childcare Center guidelines, Overseas Immunization requirements, as well as the health requirements for school.
|
|
Disaster Preparedness
|
All Palm Beach County Health Department nurses respond to the
needs of the County in a catastrophic event. They are present in the "Special Needs Shelters" during hurricane occurrences and are prepared to go into communities during epidemics
and other natural disasters.
|
|
Health Education
|
Nurses teach their patients how to take better care of themselves
by discussing their medications and instructing them on the side effects and/or interactions. Through education the nurse enlists a plan of care to which the patient can adhere. Information
is given to help in the prevention of disease or to understand how to treat an illness.
|
|
Interviewing
|
A large portion of what the nurse does is elicit information from
patients to assist in stating what their symptoms are and have a better idea of their general health condition. This entails a general medical history of the patient and their close
relatives, any medications the patients is taking and a general description of the physical and social environment in which they live. This is integrated into each of the services offered to
patients including immunizations, home visits and consultation regarding travel outside of the United States of America (U.S.A).
|
|
Provider
|
There are nurses with special training (Advanced Registered Nurse
Practitioners ARNP) that see patients that are generally well. They perform physical examinations, prescribe medications and manage the care for patients that are chronically ill or those
with mild acute illnesses. The ARNP is especially involved in preventive care, such as Family Planning.
|
|
Treatment
|
|
The nurse follows the treatment plan prescribed by the provider,
such as injections, dressing changes or interim Blood Pressure checks.
|
|
Triage
|
|
Nurses are often the first contact that a patient has with the
agency. They listen to the patients complaint or symptom, assess the problem for urgency and coordinate with the patient to assure when they will be seen and by whom.
|
