Hello, We’re Learners…

A Guide to Helping the LearnersCaring for You

AcknowledgementsThis guide is for patients and their families. It is also a resource for learners in the health and social care professions. It was developed by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (2010).

Working Group: Patricia Lee, Bonnie Nicholas, Shelley Chisholm, Holly Rupert. The Working Group extends thanks to Patient Family Advisors Dave Van Wagoner, Keith Taylor, Roger Rickards, Barb Rickards and the Patient Family Advisory Team of TBRHSC for their assistance.

Text: Holly Rupert - Vantage Communications Photos: Scott Chisholm Photography

Financial assistance was received from the Interprofessional Collaboration Education Fund of HealthForceOntario through the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Who are we?We are learners from different programs. Some of us are studying nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or medicine. Others are learning the skills needed to be a paramedic or a social worker. We want to be part of the team of people caring for you.

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Will you be a partner in our learning?When we can help care for patients like you, we learn so much. You do have a choice to accept care from learners, and we hope you will allow us to be part of your team.

This hospital is an Academic Health Science Centre. That means it is a teaching facility where we come to look after real patients in a real care setting. It is important for us to do this to gain experience. When we can talk to patients like you, we learn how to include you and your family in your care. That’s important. We know that treating you with respect and keeping you and your family at the centre of care are the main goals of the health sciences centre.

What can you expect from learners?When we come to you, we will tell you our names and what kind of learners we are. We will also explain what we are going to do for you. The care we can give you will depend on where we are in our education and experience. Some of us have just started our studies, while others are farther along in their learning. They are ready to help you in more ways. We all think of ourselves as learners. You can find out more about different learners in the section called, Meet the Learners on Your Care Team (See page 8).

While we are learning in the health sciences centre, we always have a clinical teacher we can call on for guidance. You may see us with our clinical teacher or we may come to care for you on our own.

What do we learn as part of your care team?When we finish our studies, we are expected to work in a team. As part of your care team, we learn to assess your needs and to use our skills to improve your care. We are also learning from each other and about each other’s skills. By being part of your care team, we are building the skills we will need in the future.

Is the whole team still involved in your care?Yes, everyone is involved. Learners are often asked to gather information about you. We may ask questions you have already answered, but please be patient. Our duties differ, depending on what area of care we are learning, and we use the information in different ways. We share your information with our clinical teacher and your care team, but always with your privacy in mind. All of us can use the small white board by your bed to share things about your care. You and your family can add things too. Your story is important because you are a partner with the team.

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“Mrs. Jones can you tell me how I did when I checked your vitals this afternoon?”

“Mrs. Jones is there one thing that we could do better when we get you ready to go for your physio appointment?”

“I liked it when you told me things were about the same. Today I was worried that I might be getting sicker.”

“Well, I worry about transferring into the wheelchair. I’m afraid of falling. If you could support me more firmly, I would feel safer.”

65 Hello, We’re Learners… A Guide to Helping the Learners Caring for You

By answering two questions, you can help us a lot.

What should we keep doing? What should we change?

Will you tell us what you think?Did you know you may be one of our best teachers just by telling us how you feel about the care we give you?

Some ways of telling us how you feel

I liked it when you ... because ... When you ..., I felt ... Before you ..., it would help if ... After you ..., I was ... I thought you did ... very well. It felt ...

Will you help us learn?Now you know why we are here in the health sciences centre. We learn so much when you share your experience as a patient with us. It really is a special partnership. If we can be partners in your care, we can learn how to help you and other people who come to the health sciences centre. We’ll be taking another step in our growth as caregivers.

Meet the Learners on Your Care TeamIn Ontario, all health and social care learners attend approved programs at a college or university. The programs vary in length and may take two, four or more years to complete.

DIAGNOSTICS

LAborATorY TeCHnICIAnA laboratory technician performs the practical work in the health sciences centre laboratory. This includes testing blood and tissue samples. This technician may come to a patient’s room to collect a blood sample.

MedICAL rAdIATIon TeCHnoLoGIST (MrT)The medical radiation technologist operates the imaging machines that produce pictures or X-rays that help your doctor diagnose your illness. A radiation technologist may also provide therapy treatments for patients with cancer. Usually a technologist specializes in one type of technology.

reSpIrATorY THerApIST (rT)A respiratory therapist is skilled in helping people who have breathing problems, such as asthma or other lung conditions. They work in many areas of the health sciences centre. A respiratory therapist may come to a patient’s room if oxygen is needed. They are usually called to help when people have a heart attack or injuries that affect breathing.

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MEDICINE

MedICAL STudenT (1ST And 2nd YeAr MedICIne)These learners are studying medicine after completing education in another area of study. In the first and second year of medicine, they focus on the basics of medicine. They are just beginning to gain skills in patient care. At this level, they gain a great deal from observing and interviewing patients.

MedICAL STudenT In CoMMunITY CLerkSHIp (3rd YeAr MedICIne)These learners have completed basic studies in medicine. Sometimes they are called medical clerks and their third year of study is called a clerkship. At this stage, they are applying their skills in the health sciences centre and other places in the community.

CLInICAL CLerk (4TH YeAr MedICIne)These medical learners are continuing their clinical learning, primarily in the health sciences centre. During this year, they study different areas of medicine such as surgery and family medicine. This experience helps them to decide what area of medicine to practice.

MEDICATION

pHArMACISTA pharmacist has detailed knowledge of medications and how they work. Large health sciences centres have a pharmacy where these professionals dispense the medications that are ordered by a doctor.

NURSING

nurSInG reGISTered nurSe (rn)Registered nurses work in many settings in the community, but in the health sciences centre, they are the caregivers managing the day-to-day care for patients. The care can be complicated and the registered nurse works very closely with doctors and other professionals on the care team to provide the best care. The registered nurse helps the team to be aware of the needs of the patient and the family.

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EMERGENCY

pArAMedICA paramedic is trained to be first on the scene when there is an accident or other medical event. Paramedics care for the injured people and take them to health sciences centre. They spend time in many departments of the health sciences centre as part of their studies.

MedICAL reSIdenTThese learners have finished formal studies and have written a licensing exam. Medical residents are doctors. They are qualified to look after people, but they are also continuing to learn in a specific area of medicine. At this stage, a doctor still has two or more years of practical learning to complete.

pHYSICIAn ASSISTAnT (pA)These learners have completed education in another area of study and are now studying topics in medicine. They assist doctors in the health sciences centre and other places where people receive health care.

REHABILITATION

oCCupATIonAL THerApIST (oT)An occupational therapist offers practical ways to do everyday things at home, at work, and in the community. This is important for patients who have had a serious illness such as a stroke, a heart attack or an amputation. Occupational therapists work with patients in the health sciences centre. In the community, an occupational therapist may be part of the team who visits a patient in the home.

pHYSIoTHerApIST (pT)Physiotherapists help people who have joint or muscle problems. They pro-vide treatment to improve movement by teaching patients exercises that can help strengthen muscles and reduce pain. They work in the physiotherapy department in the health sciences centre and may also come to a patient’s room or visit in the home.

SUPPORT SoCIAL WorkerSocial workers are trained to listen and discuss physical, emotional, and practical or financial concerns that patients may have. Listening is often the most important part of their role for patients and their families while they are in the health sciences centre. Social workers also help arrange services in the community that will help patients after leaving the health sciences centre.

CHApLAInChaplains provide support to patients and their families. It is not necessary to have a religious background in order to meet with a chaplain. They help all people who seek support. Learners in this field do practical learning along with specialized studies. In the health sciences centre, they work with staff chaplains.

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NUTRITION

reGISTered dIeTITIAn (rd)Dietitians advise people about meal planning, weight control and diabetes management. In the health sciences centre they plan nutrition for patients, particularly people who require a special diet because of their medical condition. They help patients and families plan for healthy eating after leaving the health sciences centre.

reGISTered prACTICAL nurSe (rpn)In the health sciences centre, a registered practical nurse provides daily care for patients who need less complex care. Within the care team, the registered practice nurse works closely with the registered nurse. RPN students study nursing for a shorter period of time.

nurSe prACTITIoner (np)A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed further study to expand his or her skills. Nurse practitioners can diagnose and prescribe medicine for patients with many common illnesses. In the health sciences centre, a nurse practitioner works as part of a care team providing special care.

SpeeCH LAnGuAGe pATHoLoGIST (SLp)Speech language pathologists help people with voice, speech, language or swallowing problems. These problems affect a person’s ability to talk and eat. In the health sciences centre, this caregiver will often work with patients who have had a stroke.

Partners in learning 2010