A nurse is often the first person you will meet while in the hospital. They will ask about your medical history and symptoms before helping you settle into your hospital room. They will also take your vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Your nurse will explain the importance of these measures and help you feel comfortable. Here are a few of the services you can expect from a nurse at a hospital:
The modern concept of a hospital dates back to 331 ce, when the Roman emperor Constantine I abolished pagan hospitals. The reason for this change was that the suffering individual was isolated from the rest of his community. Christianity stressed a close bond between the sufferer and the community, which is why the church assumed responsibility for caring for the sick and infirm. Even today, hospitals play a critical role in the health care of the community, especially in times of war.
Many medical professionals are found in hospitals, including physicians, allied health professionals, nurses, therapists, and technicians. Hospital staff also take care of laundry, patient transportation, and maintenance. Ward clerks work on reception desks. They help the doctors and other professionals with patient care and administer medications. They may also work with medical students and resident doctors. Hospital staff also include hospital volunteers. They support medical staff and ensure the daily functioning of the hospital. They work together to ensure patients are safe, healthy, and comfortable.
The staff of an emergency department must be well-trained to deal with a wide range of ailments and injuries. While emergency departments are often used by patients who have a minor injury and cannot wait to see their primary care provider, they are also used by those who have no insurance or are underinsured. Critically ill patients are treated in the intensive care unit, sometimes called the critical care unit. A hospital’s mission statement will include a description of what happens in these settings.
While a hospital is primarily an institution for providing medical care, it can be a place of healing and teaching. While the modern hospital is often run by professional medical staff, hospitals were once run by volunteers and founding religious orders. Catholic hospitals still focus on hospital ministry. Other Christian denominations also operate hospitals. The word hospital originally meant “place of hospitality.” For example, the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, England, was founded in 1681 as a nursing home and retirement home for veterans.
Modern technology and medicine have made hospitals increasingly complex institutions. They have expanded the treatment options available to their patients and required more highly trained personnel to perform them. New instruments and treatments are available from medical research and are expensive to use. Hospitals have become more complex, and health service managers are increasingly concerned about cost and effectiveness. A hospital should be able to provide all of these services. The hospital should also be able to coordinate care with other healthcare providers, as well as provide community outreach and home-based services.