Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

Sara is a nursing assistant and is checking on patients this morning. She wants to make sure her patients are not going to fall in their rooms. In her nursing assistant class, she learned that the elderly fall the most and are at more risk for breaking bones when they fall.

One of Sara’s most important jobs is to prevent patients from falling. First, she checks to find out if a patient has a history of falls.  If the patient has a history of falling, Sara will be with the patient when she gets out of bed. Sara will also be with a patient when a patient goes to the bathroom.

Sara knows some medicine can make a patient dizzy. Feeling dizzy may make some people fall.  Sara asks the nurse about any new medicine for the patients.

Sara helps patients stay safe in their rooms and apartments. Some patients fall or trip because of an obstacle. Sara looks for things that might make a patient fall. She removes any rugs on the floor because a rug can make a patient fall. Sara also picks up anything on the floor that might make a person trip or fall.

​

Sara looks around the room for any loose cords or wires and secures them. She makes sure a patient doesn’t fall because of a cord. Sara also makes sure the call bell is next to the bed. Patients use the call bell when they need help to get out of bed. Finally, Sara checks to see if there is enough light in the room. Some patients can’t see in a dark room, and they might fall.

Sara constantly checks on her patients to make sure they are safe from falls. Sara is an important member of the nursing staff at her facility.