During your stay at Queen’s, you will likely encounter many different staff members on a daily basis.
Your primary caregivers during your stay will include physicians who order exams and treatments, nurses who monitor your condition and administer medications, and nurse aides who check your vital signs and help you with personal needs such as dressing and getting out of bed. Depending on your individual care plan, you may see other caregivers such as a dietitian, physical therapist, case manager, social worker, nurse manager or physician consultants.
The physician who admitted you is responsible for directing your care while you are in the hospital. If you were admitted by someone other than your primary care physician, your plan of care will be coordinated by a Hospitalist physician.
Here’s a brief description of some of the people that you might find on your health care team.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) has a post-graduate education in nursing.
Case Manager
A case manager is part of your Care Coordination team and will help the primary nurse coordinate care; provide health education; answer questions you or your family may have, and help with any complicated discharge plans that need to be made to help you return home.
Chaplain
Chaplains are at Queen’s to support your personal belief system. An interfaith chaplain is available 24-hours a day. Your nurse can make arrangements for a visit. Our hospital chapel is located on Queen Emma, Level 4. Chapel services are held on Sundays at 9:00 am (interfaith service) and at 2:00 pm (Catholic mass).
Clinical Nurse Specialist
A clinical nurse specialist is a registered nurse (RN) with advanced education. They are experts in specific areas of nursing care and can provide information and education to assist recovery. Areas of specialty include pain management, diabetes, wound care, ostomy care, orthopedics, genetic counseling, mental health, aging, and other health specialties.
Dietitian
Dietitians are available for consultation upon request to assess nutritional needs and counsel patients or family members about their specific diets to promote health.
Doctor
Doctors include hospitalists, who are in charge of a patient’s overall care from the time of admission until discharge. They will review your past medical records, consult with your primary care physician, and perform a comprehensive history and physical upon admission. Available 24/7, hospitalists do not see patients outside the hospital, so are able to give their complete attention to their hospitalized patients.
If you entered the hospital through the Emergency Department, you will have been seen by an Emergency Department doctor, who worked to stabilize your condition.
Specialists may also be involved in your treatment, depending on your condition and type of illness.
IV Therapist
IV therapists are specially trained registered nurses who start intravenous (IV) fluid and assist other nurses in monitoring IVs.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed practical nurses work under the supervision of a registered nurse and assist with nursing care.
Nurse Aides (NA)
Nursing aides perform basic patient care needs under the direction of a registered nurse.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists provide drug information to the health care team to ensure that patients receive safe and effective medication. They monitor drug therapy and are available to answer medication-related questions.
Primary Nurse
A primary nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who works with doctors and the health care team to coordinate all aspects of care. They help patients and family with health information related to their medical conditions and care.
Registered Nurse
A registered nurse is one who has graduated from a college nursing program or from a school of nursing and has passed a national licensing exam.
Rehabilitation Therapist (RT)
Rehabilitation therapists will assist you in regaining independent living skills for your return home. The team may include a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, and an audiologist who may work with you to develop mobility or muscle strength, increase your independence in self-care activities, or improve communication skills and swallowing safety as ordered by your doctor.
Respiratory Care Practitioner
Respiratory care practitioners are trained to evaluate breathing difficulties and work closely with your doctor in determining your respiratory needs. They provide education and treatment and monitor your response to therapy 24-hours a day.
Social Worker
Social Workers are trained to help patients and family members deal with financial, social, and emotional concerns related to illness or hospitalization. They work with patients and families to help coordinate long-term illness care and rehabilitation and are involved in discharge planning.
