The Profession of Assistant Practitioner - Case Study Example

INTRODUCTION The assistant practitioner is an ity that assists in the successful implementation and carrying forward evaluation program of careas an associate of multi professional team, inside or outside an organization. The profession of assistant practitioner is expected to introduce and execute an approved care plan; the plan is approved by registered practitioner to the patients. The assistant practitioner are trained enough to work under minimum supervision, in different working environments. CONTRIBUTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibilities of the assistant practitioner include caring of the patient, and beyond that providing possible health care facility irrespective of discrimination or offense. The assistant practitioner works along with qualified team support that is involved in managing and coordinating activities to carry forward health care. The authority is required to undertake certain physiological measures and observations, and then propose a remedial action accordingly. The assistant practitioner is also required to provide teaching and learning assistance to subordinates. It is also part of the assistant practitioner to undertake clinical review processes as per conditions and requirements. The practitioner under his/her capacity is further urged to assist and support the relevant staff during their development phase. The practitioners are required to abide by the Trust core standards and procedures, the staffs are further responsible for their personal awareness related to clinical and personal development. The practitioners are provided with an option to adopt and apply new technique of practice depending upon the circumstances and relevant practices. The practitioners are urged to review professional clinical supervision to further enhance and improve their clinical practice. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to promote a healthy lifestyle in an active manner, and contribute towards the service development under limited capacity. The practitioners on the basis of their experience have the authority to participate and involve in the recruitment and retention process of their group. The practitioners are provided with an opportunity to undertake therapeutic activities, and if required should also undertake nursing procedures, after seeking relevance guidance and supervision of the registered professional in the clinical setup. It is mandatory upon the practitioner to guarantee safe and healthy environment to the patients, visitors and staff, the practitioners should be aware about the health and safety policies. The staff has the authority to take remedial action on short notice, depending upon the urgency and need of the hour. The practitioner should work in harmony with the senior authority, and should put in efforts towards establishment and maintenance of effective systems of communication between different professionals and agencies, to supplement proper reporting activities. The practitioner is further responsible towards informing the relatives of the patients, all the relevant information shared by the clinical team on their consent, furthermore it is the responsibility of the practitioner to ultimate the patient’s relatives about patients health and discharge schedule. It is the responsibility of the patient to support the ongoing assessment and management process with reference to patient’s care and needs through monitoring the past records, data collection, and discussion. Furthermore the practitioner is supposed to offer ‘care of a high standard under the guidance of a registered professional from the multi-disciplinary team’ (1983 Mental Health Act). The practitioner is suppose to build cordial relationship with the patient, so that different issues of relevance to the patient’s health and social care can be taken care of, furthermore the exercise should be carried forward on health promotion and good social care practice. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to report any lodged complaints against the health center, or incident to the senior authority. The practitioner is also bond to assist in the ward administration as delegated, accurately recording information as required, and to assist in the establishment and maintenance of effective systems of communication with all disciplines and agencies, and to ensure adequate reporting takes place on all aspects of care within the ward/department, and to assist in clinical review of major incidents’ (1983 Mental Health Act). The practitioners are repeated encouraged to abide by the following, because it is the requirement of their profession to offer courteous and encouraging advice to their clients and patients. The summary of their responsibilities are, 1. ‘Respect the patient or client as an individual 2. Obtain consent before you give any treatment or care 3. Protect confidential information 4. Co operate with others in the team 5. Maintain your occupational knowledge and competence 6. Be trustworthy 7. Act to identify and minimize risk to patients and clients’ (Richard Weiss., Manual of clinical pathology for the medical practitioner). RESPECTING CLIENTS AND PATIENTS The practitioners are required to recognize the role of the patients and clients as their associates in the health care, and should respect their involvement. However the recognition and respect towards the role pf patients and clients should be within existing legislations, scope of practice, resources and therapeutic goals. Additionally, the practitioners are encouraged to carry forward their activities without any discrimination, the differences of gender, age, race, ability, sexuality, economic status, lifestyle, culture and religious or political beliefs should be ignored while offering health care facilities. The practitioners are required to respects and appreciate the interests and honor of patients and clients. The practitioners are urged to work with certain reservations related to maintaining boundaries on the grounds of relationships with their counterparts and associates, it is important that the practitioner should only focus on the needs of patients and/ or clients. It is equally important for the practitioner to involve in such activities, so as to promote the interests of patients and clients. SEEKING CONSENT PRIOR TO GIVING TREATMENT OR DOSAGE The clients and patients have the right to seek and demand information with reference to health and medical treatment. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to offer unconditional know how to the patients and clients. However the practitioner needs to be sensitive about the needs of patients and clients, and their wishes should be respected. The required information requested by clients and practitioners, should be provided without any delay, the information provided should be accurate, and should be well received and understood by the recipients. The information provided by the practitioner should be truthful; however this exercise should be carried forward after seeking the approval of the senior authority. According to law, ‘the practitioner is under compulsion to respect patients and clients right to choose, even where a refusal may result in harm or death to him or her, unless a court of law orders to the contrary. This right is protected in law’ (1983 Mental Health Act). The practitioner should be careful that while obtaining permission, it has to be ensured that permission is granted voluntarily by legal authority. It is important to understand that patient and client are legally competent authority, unless not authorized by qualified and registered practitioner. The consent seek by the practitioner should be received in written, oral or by cooperation. The discussions and decisions conveyed and followed should be supported by documentary evidences. The practitioner should seek consent only from particular authority; permission can be sought from others provided that the replaced authority has written proof. COOPERATION WITH OTHER ASSOCIATES Line Manager holds administrative authority over the assistant practitioner, and the assistant practitioner is accountable to him, and is required to report him after regular intervals, both the line manager and assistant practitioner are liable to work within governance framework of the respective organization, where both are serving. The practitioner is required to support and develop an atmosphere of professional courtesy, where the skills, learning, expertise and contributions of the other colleagues is ought to be respected. It is important for the practitioner to communicate in an effective manner with other associates. The practitioner should encourage sharing of knowledge and resources among the counterparts and subordinates. It is important that assistant practitioner should work in accordance with the protocol, in a collaborative manner, such that the practitioner should realize that he/ she is responsible for her personal account, and therefore should avoid any mistake on his/ her part. Among other responsibilities with reference to patient health care, it is important for the practitioner to maintain proper record of the patient and client’s medical record. Information related to treatment, care planning and delivery should be well received and recorded by the practitioner. The record keeping, should be consistent, and relevant record and observations of the patient or client should be included where required. The record maintained by the practitioner should provide evidence with reference to care planned, the decisions taken, the care services offered, and information shared; the record should be authenticated by a Registered Professional after regular interval. The care offered should successfully meet the needs, and serve the interests of patients and clients; the care delivered should not at all compromise over the existing care. ‘The person who delegates remains accountable for ensuring that the person who does the work is able to do it and that adequate supervision and support is provided this applies to a registered practitioner and an AP once registration applies’, (1983 Mental Health Act). CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS The confidential matters with reference to patients or clients should be treated the same manner, and information regarding patients or clients irrespective of its nature, needs not discussed or shared with public or common people. The secrecy of the matter related to patients health however in some of cases need to disclosed with the senior authorities, therefore the assistant practitioner should encourage and support the patient, so that the patient feels comfortable while the disclosure of his/ her private information. It is advisable to share such issues with the family of patients or clients, regarding patient and client’s attitude towards disclosure of their privates, and such situations should be handled with the assistance of the family. ‘Where there is an issue of child protection, you must act at all times in accordance with national and local policies’ (1983 Mental Health Act). Professional Proficiency and Competency It is the responsibility of the assistant practitioner to offer services of care that is in conformity with the current research evidence and best practice. The knowledge and skills of the practitioner should be updated, that can be achieved by maintaining portfolio of reflective practice. The relevant contents of knowledge, skills and abilities should be present, so that the practitioner can conduct effective operations without direct supervision. Furthermore, it is important that practitioner should be sincere and humble towards his learning, and therefore those practices and responsibilities that were previously never taken, or for which the practitioner consider himself incompetent, or for which the practitioner is not well trained should be avoided. HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY The profession requires sincerity and devotion, therefore it is primitive that the practitioner offers and conducts his/ her assignment honestly, and while doing so every possible unfair mean should be discouraged or avoided. The assistant practitioner should refuse any gift, favor or hospitality that might be offered to receive preferential treatment from the practitioner. The assistant practitioner should not seek any financial rewards or assistance from patients, clients or their relatives in exchange for his/ her services. It is important that the Assistant Practitioner should maintain the repute of his/ her profession. REDUCE THE RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH PATIENT AND CLIENT’S HEALTH It is the foremost responsibility of the assistant practitioner to promote health care environments, which are supportive to safe, moral, ethical and therapeutic practices. In case when the practitioner fails to deliver substantial care services or treatment, the authority should immediately report to the senior person for assistance. In this respect, it is important to keep record for supporting such occurrence. It is also important for the practitioner to restrain from applying any such risky measure without the approval of the authority, and received approval should be in written. Furthermore it is equally important that, ‘The assistant practitioner should be involved in the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines, and should receive proper training based on competency and merit. The staff should be flexible enough to accommodate and adjust with the new staff, employees within the organization and the introduction of new systems of work. In this regard the importance and significance of competencies in the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines should be given due attention’ (Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC 2002/4). CONCLUSION It is important for the assistant practitioner to be fully committed and sincere towards their respective assignment. The training and practical knowledge is of great importance for the assistant practitioner. The practitioner should be serious in the fulfillment of its moral and professional obligation towards his/ her clients and patients. The health care facilities of good quality should be offered with care. The issues and matters of secrecy with reference to the patient should be handled with care. According to Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC 2002/04, the assistant practitioner in under compulsion to provide maximum available resources to the patients, and in this reference the consent of the senior practitioner should be requested. Furthermore, it is among the responsibilities of the practitioner to convey and discuss different matters related to the health of the patients with their families and relatives, however in this respect the secrecy of the issue should be respected. The profession should be carried forward in highly responsible manner, and related accords should be valued and respected, which emphasis more on the moral and ethical aptitude of the practitioner. The Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC 2002/4 proposed code of conduct is effective preamble for the assistant practitioner, and is itself highly comprehensive document. REFERENCES 1. Shirley Price, Len Price., Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. 2. LLB. Joan Matthews, Julie Stone – Medical., Complementary Medicine and the Law . 3. J. P. (John Parry) Griffin – Medical., The Textbook of Pharmaceutical Medicine 4. Laurinda Beebe Harman., Ethical Challenges in the Management of Health Information. 5. Scottish Executive Health Department. Extension of Nurse Prescribing in NHS Scotland: Introduction of the Nurse Prescribers Extended Formulary. NHSHDL (2002) 56. (5 July 2002). 6. Scottish Executive Health Department. Patient Group Directions. NHSHDL (2001) (January 2001). 7. The Health and Social Care Act 2001. 8. Medicines Control Agency (MCA). Proposals for Supplementary Prescribing and Pharmacists and Proposed Amendments to the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997. Consultation Paper MLX284. London: MCA, (16 April 2002). 9. The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. 10. The National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. 11. Medicines The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment Order 2003. 12. The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. Read More