With National Cancer Control Month on the horizon, we wanted to spend a few moments this week talking about the dreaded disease. According to the American Cancer Society’s 2014 Facts & Figures Report, more than 1,665,500 people are anticipated to contract the disease this year and an estimated 585,700+ are projected to die from it. Some of those people may choose to spend their final days in a clinical setting. Others may want to spend those last moments at home or in a hospice facility, among loved ones. Those that fall into the latter category have the option of hiring nurse’s aides in Florida.

In Florida, licensed nurse’s aides work under the guidance of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, oncologists and primary physicians. As such, they can provide limited, direct and indirect care to cancer patients 24 hours a day, year-round. For example, in instances where the cancer patient is bedridden, nurse’s aides can turn the person every hour to help prevent pressure ulcer formation. They can also change linens, perform incontinence care, serve thickened liquids and check vital signs in accordance with the cancer patient’s care plan.

Skilled nursing care, on the other hand, must be left to RNs, LPNs and physicians. Examples of skilled care services are oral medication administration, intramuscular injections, wound debridement, blood draws and foley catheter insertions.

In addition to the activities that we mentioned earlier, nurse’s aides can also document the cancer patient’s condition. Once the documentation is reviewed by those involved with case management, it is added to the patient’s chart and considered during care planning sessions.

To find a nurse’s aide capable of providing the in-home care services that we mentioned above and more, please contact us. We help families in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties get the in-home cancer care that their loved ones need. Assorted payment plans and third-party billing services may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.