HOSPITAL AND ITS ENVIRONMENT
Hospitals are institutions, which are mainly designed to care for the sick, injured and the
well. The later are usually admitted for physical check up and investigations
which cannot be done elsewhere.
In our country most of the government hospitals offer free
treatment for people with poor, socio-economic condition, which helps in the
alleviations of untold misery.
The word hospital
is derived from the word "hopes" which means a guest. This is quite
true for a patient leaves his home and comes to the hospital as a guest for
brief periods of stay. Even more than a guest he is worried and sick as such he
needs more care and attention than a guest would receive.
In the hospital the variety of people of all ages, caste and
creed with varying degrees of illness are treated. Besides the patients there
are the workers like doctors, nurses, technicians, fourth class servants and
other members of the health team.
It is important that the nurse understands the peculiar
nature of the patient's stay in the hospital and make the physical, mental and
social environment conducive to recovery.
Types of hospitals
Hospitals may be owned by private agencies, individual or
government. There are general hospitals where all kinds of services are given
such as medical, surgical, paediatrics, obstetrics and other kinds of special
service.
Some
hospitals give only one particular type of service according to sex, age and
nature of illness, for example, they may be women's, children's and mental hospitals
(Psychiatric Hospital).
The functions of the hospital
The main aim of a hospital is patient care and comfort and
the nurse has much to contribute in not only doing her functions, but also in
co-ordinating the activities of the health team.
Besides the basic functions of a hospital such as care of
the sick and injured, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitative services, many
undertake education of doctors, nurses, technicians etc., as an added function.
Some hospitals do research work.
There are various departments in a hospital like medical,
nursing, pharmacy, and dietary. Every hospital and its departments have own
policies and rules, which govern their various activities.
The nurse should acquaint herself with the policies and
interpret those connected with the patient's admission, treatment and discharge
to the patient's relatives in a simple language.
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