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| |
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|
| Chiropractors, also
known as doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, |
| diagnose and treat
patients whose health problems are associated with muscular, nervous, and
skeletal systems, |
| especially the spine.
In cases in which difficulties can be traced to the involvement of
musculoskeletal |
| structures,
chiropractors manually adjust the spinal column. Some chiropractors use
water, light, massage, |
| ultrasound, electric,
and heat therapy. They also may apply supports such as straps, tapes, and
braces. |
| Chiropractors counsel
patients about wellness concepts such as nutrition, exercise, changes in
lifestyle, and |
| stress management, but
do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery. |
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| |
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| |
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|
| Dental assistants
perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They
work chairside as dentists |
| examine and treat
patients. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental
chair, prepare them for |
| treatment, and obtain
their dental records. Assistants hand instruments and materials to
dentists and keep patients |
| mouths dry and clear by
using suction or other devices. Assistants also sterilize and disinfect
instruments and |
| equipment, prepare
trays of instruments for dental procedures, and instruct patients on
postoperative and general |
| oral health care. Some
dental assistants prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take
dental x rays, |
| and process x-ray film
as directed by a dentist. |
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|
| Dental hygienists
remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice
good oral hygiene, and |
| provide other
preventive dental care. Hygienists examine patients teeth and gums,
recording the presence of |
| diseases or
abnormalities. They remove calculus, stains, and plaque from teeth;
perform root planing as a |
| periodontal therapy;
take and develop dental x rays; and apply cavity-preventive agents such as
fluorides and pit |
| and fissure sealants.
In some States, hygienists administer anesthetics; place and carve filling
materials, |
| temporary fillings, and
periodontal dressings; remove sutures; and smooth and polish metal
restorations. Although |
| hygienists may not
diagnose diseases, they can prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic
tests for the dentist to |
| interpret. Hygienists
sometimes work chairside with the dentist during treatment. |
|
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|
| Dental laboratory
technicians fill prescriptions from dentists for crowns, bridges,
dentures, and other dental |
| prosthetics. In some
laboratories, technicians perform all stages of the work, whereas, in
other labs, each |
| technician does only a
few. Dental laboratory technicians can specialize in 1 of 5 areas:
Orthodontic appliances, |
| crowns and bridges,
complete dentures, partial dentures, or ceramics. Job titles can reflect
specialization in |
| these areas. For
example, technicians who make porcelain and acrylic restorations are
called dental ceramists. |
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|
| Dentists diagnose,
prevent, and treat problems with teeth or mouth tissue. They remove decay,
fill cavities, |
| examine x-rays, place
protective plastic sealants teeth of children, straighten teeth, and
repair fractured teeth. |
| They also perform
corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases.
Dentists extract teeth and |
| make models and
measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth. They provide
instruction on diet, brushing, |
| flossing, the use of
fluorides, and other aspects of dental care. They also administer
anesthetics and write |
| prescriptions for
antibiotics and other medications. |
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| Dietetic Technicians
assist dietitians in the provision of food service and nutritional
programs. Under the |
| supervision of
dietitians, may plan and produce meals based on established guidelines,
teach principles of food and |
| nutrition, or counsel
individuals. |
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|
| Dietitians and
nutritionists plan food and nutrition programs and supervise the
preparation and serving of meals. |
| They help to prevent
and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending
dietary modifications, |
| such as the use of less
salt for those with high blood pressure or the reduction of fat and sugar
intake for those |
| who are overweight.
Dietitians manage food service systems for institutions such as hospitals
and schools, promote |
| sound eating habits
through education, and conduct research. Major areas of practice include
clinical, community, |
| management, and
consultant dietetics |
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| Medical equipment
repairers and other precision instrument and equipment repairers maintain,
adjust, calibrate, |
| and repair electronic,
electromechanical, and hydraulic equipment. They use various tools,
including multimeters, |
| specialized software,
and computers designed to communicate with specific pieces of hardware.
Some of their tools |
| are specialized, such
as equipment designed to simulate water or air pressure. These repairers
use handtools, |
| soldering irons, and
other electronic tools to repair and adjust the equipment. Faulty circuit
boards and other |
| parts are normally
removed and replaced. Medical equipment and other precision instrument
repairers must maintain |
| careful, detailed logs
of all maintenance and repair on each piece of equipment. |
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|
| In an emergency, EMTs
and paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator,
and often work with |
| police and fire
department personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and
extent of the patient?s |
| condition while trying
to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems.
Following strict rules |
| and guidelines, they
give appropriate emergency care and, when necessary, transport the
patient. Some paramedics |
| are trained to treat
patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home
without transporting |
| them to a medical
facility. Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out
under the direction of |
| medical doctors by
radio preceding or during transport. |
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|
| Promote, maintain, and
improve individual and community health by assisting individuals and
communities to adopt |
| healthy behaviors.
Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning,
implementing, |
| monitoring, and
evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies and
environments. May also |
| serve as a resource to
assist individuals, other professionals, or the community, and may
administer fiscal |
| resources for health
education programs. |
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|
| Medical assistants
perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the |
| offices of physicians,
podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running
smoothly. They should not |
| be confused with
physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the
direct supervision of a |
| physician. The duties
of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the
location and size of the |
| practice and the
practitioners specialty. Medical assistants perform many administrative
duties, including |
| answering telephones,
greeting patients, updating and filing patients? medical records, filling
out insurance |
| forms, handling
correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission
and laboratory services, |
| and handling billing
and bookkeeping. |
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| Medical Equipment
Preparers prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare
equipment. May perform |
| routine laboratory
tasks and operate or inspect equipment. |
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| |
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| |
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| Medical records and
health information technicians ensure that all forms are completed and
properly identified and |
| signed, and that all
necessary information is in the computer. They regularly communicate with
physicians or other |
| healthcare
professionals to clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional information.
assign a code to each diagnosis |
| and procedure. They
consult classification manuals and also rely on their knowledge of disease
processes. |
| Technicians then use
computer software to assign the patient to one of several hundred
diagnosis-related groups, or |
| DRGs. The DRG
determines the amount for which the hospital will be reimbursed if the
patient is covered by Medicare |
| or other insurance
programs using the DRG system. Technicians who specialize in coding are
called health |
| information coders,
medical record coders, coder/abstractors, or coding specialists. In
addition to the DRG system, |
| coders use other coding
systems, such as those geared towards ambulatory settings or long-term
care. |
|
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|
| Medical
transcriptionists listen to dictated recordings made by physicians and
other healthcare professionals and |
| transcribe them into
medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative material. They
generally listen to |
| recordings on a
headset, using a foot pedal to pause the recording when necessary, and key
the text into a personal |
| computer or word
processor, editing as necessary for grammar and clarity. The documents
they produce include |
| discharge summaries,
history and physical examination reports, operative reports, consultation
reports, autopsy |
| reports, diagnostic
imaging studies, progress notes, and referral letters. Medical
transcriptionists return |
| transcribed documents
to the physicians or other healthcare professionals who dictated them for
review and |
| signature, or
correction. These documents eventually become part of permanent files of
patients. |
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|
| Physician assistants
(PAs) provide healthcare services under the supervision of physicians.
They should not be |
| confused with medical
assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks. (medical
assistants are |
| discussed elsewhere in
the Handbook.) PAs are formally trained to provide diagnostic,
therapeutic, and preventive |
| healthcare services, as
delegated by a physician. Working as members of the healthcare team, they
take medical |
| histories, examine and
treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, make
diagnoses, and |
| prescribe medications.
They also treat minor injuries, by suturing, splinting, and casting. PAs
record progress |
| notes, instruct and
counsel patients, and order or carry out therapy. In 47 States and the
District of Columbia, |
| physician assistants
may prescribe medications. PAs also may have managerial duties. Some order
medical and |
| laboratory supplies and
equipment and may supervise technicians and assistants. |
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| |
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|
| Licensed practical
nurses (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), care for |
| the sick, injured,
convalescent, and disabled under the direction of physicians and
registered nurses. Most LPNs |
| provide basic bedside
care, taking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and
respiration. They |
| also prepare and give
injections and enemas, monitor catheters, apply dressings, treat bedsores,
and give alcohol |
| rubs and massages. LPNs
monitor their patients and report adverse reactions to medications or
treatments. They |
| collect samples for
testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food
and fluid intake and |
| output. To help keep
patients comfortable, LPNs assist with bathing, dressing, and personal
hygiene. In States |
| where the law allows,
they may administer prescribed medicines or start intravenous fluids. Some
LPNs help deliver, |
| care for, and feed
infants. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and
aides. |
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|
| Cardiovascular
technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing
and |
| treating cardiac
(heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments. Cardiovascular
technologists may |
| specialize in three
areas of practice invasive cardiology, echocardiography, and vascular
technology. |
| Cardiovascular
technicians who specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing,
and Holter monitors are |
| known as cardiographic,
or EKG technicians. Cardiovascular technologists specializing in invasive
procedures are |
| called cardiology
technologists. They assist physicians with cardiac catheterization
procedures in which a small |
| tube, or catheter, is
wound through a patients blood vessel from a spot on the leg of the
patient into the heart. |
| The procedure can
determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the
heart muscle. |
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|
|
| Sonography, or
ultrasonography, is the use of sound waves to generate an
image |
| for the assessment and
diagnosis of various medical conditions. Many people associate sonography
with obstetrics |
| and the viewing of the
fetus in the womb, but this technology has many other applications in the
diagnosis and |
| treatment of medical
conditions. Diagnostic medical sonographers, also known as
ultrasonographers, use special |
| equipment to direct
nonionizing, high frequency sound waves into areas of the body of the
patient. Sonographers |
| operate the equipment,
which collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped,
transmitted, or |
| photographed for
interpretation and diagnosis by a physician. |
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|
| Medical Appliance
Technicians construct, fit, maintain, or repair medical supportive
devices, such as braces, |
| artificial limbs,
joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical
appliances. |
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| Medical and Clinical
laboratory technicians perform less complex tests and laboratory
procedures than technologists |
| perform. Technicians
may prepare specimens and operate automated analyzers, for example, or
they may perform manual |
| tests in accordance
with detailed instructions. Like technologists, they may work in several
areas of the clinical |
| laboratory or
specialize in just one. Histotechnicians cut and stain tissue specimens
for microscopic examination |
| by pathologists, and
phlebotomists collect blood samples. They usually work under the
supervision of medical and |
| clinical laboratory
technologists or laboratory managers. |
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| Medical and Clinical
laboratory technologists generally have a four year college |
| degree in medical
technology or in one of the life sciences, or they have a combination of
formal training and work |
| experience. They
perform complex chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic,
microscopic, and bacteriological |
| tests. Technologists
microscopically examine blood, tissue, and other body substances. They
make cultures of body |
| fluid and tissue
samples, to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other
microorganisms. Medical |
| and Clinical laboratory
technologists analyze samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction
and determine |
| blood glucose and
cholesterol levels. They also type and cross match blood samples for
transfusions. |
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| Ophthalmic laboratory
techniciansłalso known as manufacturing opticians, optical |
| mechanics, or optical
goods workersłmake prescription eyeglass or contact lenses. Prescription
lenses are curved in |
| such a way that light
is correctly focused onto the retina of the patientĘs eye, improving his
or her vision. Some |
| ophthalmic laboratory
technicians manufacture lenses for other optical instruments, such as
telescopes and |
| binoculars. Ophthalmic
laboratory technicians cut, grind, edge, and finish lenses according to
specifications |
| provided by dispensing
opticians, optometrists, or ophthalmologists and may insert lenses into
frames to produce |
| finished
glasses. |
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|
| Audiologists work with
people who have hearing, balance, and related ear problems. They examine
individuals of all |
| ages and identify those
with the symptoms of hearing loss and other auditory, balance, and related
neural problems. |
| They then assess the
nature and extent of the problems and help the individuals manage them.
Using audiometers, |
| computers, and other
testing devices, they measure the loudness at which a person begins to
hear sounds, the |
| ability to distinguish
between sounds, and the impact of hearing loss or balance problems on an
individual?s daily |
| life. Audiologists
interpret these results and may coordinate them with medical, educational,
and psychological |
| information to make a
diagnosis and determine a course of treatment. |
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| Massage Therapists
massage customers for hygienic or remedial purposes. |
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| Nuclear medicine
technologists operate cameras that detect and map the radioactive drug in
a patient?s body to |
| create diagnostic
images. After explaining test procedures to patients, technologists
prepare a dosage of the |
| radiopharmaceutical and
administer it by mouth, injection, or other means. They position patients
and start a gamma |
| scintillation camera,
or scanner, which creates images of the distribution of a
radiopharmaceutical as it localizes |
| in, and emits signals
from, the patients body. The images are produced on a computer screen or
on film for a |
| physician to
interpret. |
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|
| Occupational therapist
assistants help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises
outlined in a treatment |
| plan developed in
collaboration with an occupational therapist. Activities range from
teaching the proper method of |
| moving from a bed into
a wheelchair to the best way to stretch and limber the muscles of the
hand. Assistants |
| monitor an individuals
activities to make sure that they are performed correctly and to provide
encouragement. They |
| also record progress of
client for the occupational therapist. If the treatment is not having the
intended effect, |
| or the client is not
improving as expected, the therapist may alter the treatment program in
hopes of obtaining |
| better
results |
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|
| Occupational therapist
assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists
to provide |
| rehabilitative services
to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments.
The ultimate |
| goal is to improve
clients quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. For
example, occupational |
| therapist assistants
help injured workers re-enter the labor force by teaching them how to
compensate for lost |
| motor skills or help
individuals with learning disabilities increase their
independence. |
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| |
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| |
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| Occupational therapists
(OTs) help people improve their ability to perform tasks |
| in their daily living
and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions
that are mentally, |
| physically,
developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They also help them to develop,
recover, or maintain daily |
| living and work skills.
Occupational therapists help clients not only to improve their basic motor
functions and |
| reasoning abilities,
but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. Their goal is to
help clients have |
| independent,
productive, and satisfying lives. |
|
|
|
|
| Orthotists and
Prosthetists assist patients with disabling conditions of limbs and spine
or with partial or total |
| absence of limb by
fitting and preparing orthopedic braces or prostheses. |
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|
|
| Physical therapist
aides help make therapy sessions productive, under the direct |
| supervision of a
physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. They usually are
responsible for keeping the |
| treatment area clean
and organized and for preparing for each patients therapy. When patients
need assistance |
| moving to or from a
treatment area, aides push them in a wheelchair or provide them with a
shoulder to lean on. |
| Because they are not
licensed, aides do not perform the clinical tasks of a physical therapist
assistant. |
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|
|
| Physical therapist
assistants perform a variety of tasks. Components of treatment procedures
performed by these |
| workers, under the
direction and supervision of physical therapists, involve exercises,
massages, electrical |
| stimulation, paraffin
baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. Physical therapist
assistants record the |
| patient?s responses to
treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical
therapist. |
|
|
|
|
| Physical therapists
(PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility,
relieve pain, and prevent |
| or limit permanent
physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They
restore, maintain, |
| and promote overall
fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and
individuals with disabling |
| conditions such as
low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and
cerebral palsy. |
| Treatment often
includes exercise for patients who have been immobilized and lack
flexibility, strength, or |
| endurance. Physical
therapists encourage patients to use their own muscles to increase their
flexibility and range |
| of motion before
finally advancing to other exercises that improve strength, balance,
coordination, and endurance. |
| The goal is to improve
how an individual functions at work and at home. |
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|
|
| Radiation Therapists
provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist
according to established |
| practices and
standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting
as liaison with physician |
| and supportive care
personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and
protection devices; and |
| maintaining records,
reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor
localization. |
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| |
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| |
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|
| Radiologic
technologists and technicians, also referred to as radiographers, produce
x ray films (radiographs) of |
| parts of the human body
for use in diagnosing medical problems. They prepare patients for
radiologic examinations |
| by explaining the
procedure, removing articles such as jewelry, through which x rays cannot
pass, and positioning |
| patients so that the
parts of the body can be appropriately radiographed. To prevent
unnecessary radiation |
| exposure, these workers
surround the exposed area with radiation protection devices, such as lead
shields, or limit |
| the size of the x ray
beam. Radiographers position radiographic equipment at the correct angle
and height over the |
| appropriate area of a
patient?s body. Using instruments similar to a measuring tape, they may
measure the thickness |
| of the section to be
radiographed and set controls on the x ray machine to produce radiographs
of the appropriate |
| density, detail, and
contrast. They place the x ray film under the part of the patient?s body
to be examined and |
| make the exposure. They
then remove the film and develop it. |
|
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|
|
| Recreational Therapists
plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for
patients in |
| hospitals, nursing
homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics,
social activities, |
| and arts and crafts.
May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational
activity. |
|
|
|
|
| Respiratory therapists
and respiratory therapy technicians also known as respiratory care
practitionersłevaluate, |
| treat, and care for
patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory
therapists, practicing |
| under physician
direction, assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care
therapeutic treatments and |
| diagnostic procedures,
including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Respiratory
therapy |
| technicians follow
specific, well-defined respiratory care procedures, under the direction of
respiratory |
| therapists and
physicians. In clinical practice, many of the daily duties of therapists
and technicians overlap, |
| although therapists
generally have greater responsibility than technicians. For example,
respiratory therapists |
| will primarily consult
with physicians and other healthcare staff to help develop and modify
individual patient |
| care plans. Respiratory
therapists are also more likely to provide complex therapy requiring
considerable |
| independent judgment,
such as caring for patients on life support in hospital intensive care
units. In this |
| statement, the term
respiratory therapists includes both respiratory therapists and
respiratory therapy |
| technicians. |
|
|
|
|
| Respiratory therapists
and respiratory therapy technicians also known as respiratory care
practitioners evaluate, |
| treat, and care for
patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory
therapists, practicing |
| under physician
direction, assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care
therapeutic treatments and |
| diagnostic procedures,
including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Respiratory
therapy |
| technicians follow
specific, well-defined respiratory care procedures, under the direction of
respiratory |
| therapists and
physicians. In clinical practice, many of the daily duties of therapists
and technicians overlap, |
| although therapists
generally have greater responsibility than technicians. For example,
respiratory therapists |
| will primarily consult
with physicians and other healthcare staff to help develop and modify
individual patient |
| care plans. Respiratory
therapists are also more likely to provide complex therapy requiring
considerable |
| independent judgment,
such as caring for patients on life support in hospital intensive care
units. |
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| |
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| |
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|
| Speech-language
pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat,
and help to prevent |
| speech, language,
cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related
disorders. |
| Speech-language
pathologists work with people who cannot make speech sounds, or cannot
make them clearly; those |
| with speech rhythm and
fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice quality problems,
such as |
| inappropriate pitch or
harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language;
those who wish to |
| improve their
communication skills by modifying an accent; those with cognitive
communication impairments, such as |
| attention, memory, and
problem solving disorders; and those with hearing loss who use hearing
aids or cochlear |
| implants in order to
develop auditory skills and improve communication. They also work with
people who have |
| swallowing
difficulties. |
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| |
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| |
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|
| Registered nurses (RNs)
work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with
illness. They are |
| advocates and health
educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct
patient care, they |
| observe, assess, and
record symptoms, reactions, and progress in patients; assist physicians
during surgeries, |
| treatments, and
examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and
rehabilitation. RNs also |
| develop and manage
nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care,
and help individuals |
| and groups take steps
to improve or maintain their health. While State laws govern the tasks
that RNs may perform, |
| it is usually the work
setting that determines their daily job duties. |
|
|
|
|