A 2000-word essay written about the different healthcare professionals involved in the healthcare setting, including personal experiences of witnessing different professionals working in their roles. Detailed and received a good grade. I hope this may benefit someone else who may be writing an essa...
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLES OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
Introduction:
According to the definition, a healthcare professional (HP) is a qualified professional, who is
responsible for maintaining health in humans through the principles and procedures of evidence-
based medicine and care1. Their role is to study, treat and diagnose patients according to their
needs1. The General Medical Council (GMC) sets boundaries for doctors and medical students, who
are working in the UK. Other councils are responsible for regulating other healthcare professions.
For example, the Nursing and Midwifery council (NMC) is responsible for ensuring all nurses and
midwives fulfil their duties as healthcare professionals. Many healthcare workers in the UK are also
managed by the NHS and are expected to demonstrate the six values of the NHS constitution. The six
values are: working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care,
compassion, improving lives and everyone counts 2.
Roles of Healthcare Professionals
During my time at the advanced dementia unit, I was able to witness a variety of different HPs
working together to achieve the best possible care for the patients. I was able to appreciate the
positive impact each member of the MDT had towards the care of the patient. The ward consisted of
multiple teams. Some examples were the: medical team, nursing team, physiotherapist team and
discharge team, each with their own specific role.
The medical team consisted of the consultants and junior doctors. A consultant is an experienced
clinician who has a leadership role in managing the MDT’s which are providing care 3. They are also
deemed the most responsible in terms of making the final decisions about a patient’s care 3. It can
take several years to become a consultant. After foundation training, core training and specialist
training is required4. Additionally, a consultant is also involved in teaching and training junior doctors
and medical students. Junior doctors work alongside the consultant to ensure all patients receive the
medical care they need. They are responsible for ensuring all notes are taken accurately and are
uploaded onto the relative software. On my placement at the advanced dementia clinic, I was able
to witness the consultant and junior doctor interaction. The junior doctor was asked to conduct a
physical examination on the patient, whilst the consultant observed and ensured it was being carried
out correctly. The consultant was able to give constructive feedback emphasising the importance of
a consultant’s role on a medical ward. The consultant also asked the junior doctor to suggest a
treatment plan following the examination, to which the consultant agreed.
Another team I witnessed on the ward was the nursing team. The nursing team consisted of a group
of nurses and a head nurse. The head nurse was present during the handover with the junior
doctors, physiotherapist, and occupational therapist. As the nurses built a better rapport with the
patients, they were able to make more accurate suggestions towards the upcoming care plan. The
head nurse was responsible for ensuring the rest of the nursing staff were aware of any changes
made to any of the patients’ treatment plan during the handover. Nurses are generally responsible
for taking observations, checking oxygen levels and ensuring that a patient is receiving the correct
medications. Also, nurses can further qualify to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). An
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