Effective COMMUNICATION among your team members is extremely imperative in order to deliver quality of care.

Because of the nursing profession and it’s continuous and visible presence at the patient’s side, LVNs, RNs, and NPs are in the unique position to provide holistic patient care, education and capitalize on the strengths of each discipline for the patient’s ultimate health and wellness benefit.

Nurse Practitioners (NP) help patients understand the health care problem and the treatment plan. The  NP depend on nurses, RNs or LVNs, to help reinforce the teaching and plan of care. The Registered Nurse or License Vocational Nurse are often asked follow up questions by the patients and/or their families members, especially when the physician or NP explanations are not in terms the patient understands or when patients and families have additional questions.

In well-functioning interdisciplinary teams, team members view nurses (RNs or LVNs) as their “eyes and ears”- to provide feedback about patient participation, to share information that may help the NP and/or the physician plan of care, adjust goals and reinforce the follow-up.

A Nurse Practitioner:

The Nurse Practitioner is allowed to provide a broad range of health care services, which may include but not limited too:

• Obtain medical histories and perform physical examinations
• Provide immunizations and other preventative child care
• Diagnose and treat illnesses
• Identify, treat, and manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and arthritis
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests such as x-rays, blood work, and EKG’s
• Prescribe medications
• Prescribe physical therapy, massage therapy, and other rehabilitation therapy
• Provide education to allow patients to make decisions about their own health
• Perform procedures such as suturing, casting, cryotherapy, and skin biopsy
• Refer to other health care providers

A Register Nurse:

Registered Nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. RNs typically do the following:

• Record patients’ medical histories and symptoms
• Give patients medications and treatments
• Set up plans for patients’ care or contribute to existing plans
• Observe patients and record the observations
• Consult with doctors and other healthcare professionals
• Operate and monitor medical equipment
• Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results
• Teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses or injuries
• Explain what to do at home after treatment

A Licensed Vocational Nurse:

Licensed Vocational Nurses provide basic nursing care. Their duties vary depending on the work setting, but they typically do the following:

• Monitor patients’ health – such as checking their blood pressure
• Administer basic nursing care, including changing bandages and inserting catheters
• Provide for the basic comfort of patients, such as helping them bathe or dress
• Discuss health care with patients and listen to their concerns
• Report patients’ status to registered nurses and doctors
• Keep records on patients’ health
• Experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses oversee and direct other LVNs and unlicensed medical staff.