What types of things, such as, tasks, caring duties, treatments – do nurses carry out?
Healthcare professionals do many things according to strict rules and policies. Their actions and responsibilities are frequently dictated by the nature of specific treatments including drugs, investigations, even surgery. Taking an injection as an example, the nurse needs to acquire and maintain the required degree of competency. They must know where the equipment is kept, the drug, dose, validity of the prescription, the injection site, the technique, consent, documentation and possible observations following the injection. An injection in ‘invasive’, it is something that is done physically to the patient. If these are classed as mechanistic, then there follows those instances when healthcare workers give of themselves, developing rapport and engaging therapeutically using their sense of humanity. In the injection example, just given the nurse will attempt to reassure the patient, provide an explanation, protecting the patient’s privacy and dignity at all times. Here they further con
