A toddler is brought to the well-child community clinic by her grandmother. The health history reveals recurrent nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Her physical exam reveals a negligible gain in height and weight, lethargy, and a delay in achieving milestones. As a result of the child's delays, multiple disciplines would likely be involved in caring for the child. Which of the following represents the most effective role the nurse would play in caring for the child?
A) Coordinator
B) Teacher
C) Counselor
D) Advocate

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

One of nursing's major contributions to the health care team is the role of the coordinator. Care can easily become fragmented when patients are seen by numerous specialists, each interested in a different aspect of the patient. A major risk of this situation is that the orders of different specialists may conflict with one another and be counterproductive. Therefore, it is important for the nurse to make rounds with other health care professionals and to read the results of the various consultations. The nurse can help interpret the specialists' findings for the patient and family, prepare the family to participate in the patient's plan of care, and serve as a liaison among the members of the health care team. Nurses also play the roles of teacher, counselor, and advocate, but this patient requires coordination of care.

A Toddler Is Brought to the Well-Child Community Clinic by Her