The provision of health care for the nation involves people in many different professions. There are doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, pharmacists, radiographers and the list goes on. An ever-increasing population means that the demand for health-care professionals will continue to rise. Depending on their qualifications, health-care personnel can work in government or private hospitals, nursing homes, day care centres, specialists' clinics, special schools, pharmacies or pharmaceutical firms.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The following lists some of the jobs available in this profession:
(a) Doctor (General Practitioner)
- Listens to patients' symptoms and forms a picture of the possible problems.
- Observes and examines patients before making a diagnosis.
- Advises patients regarding diet, exercise, weight control, pregnancy etc.
- Prescribes and administers medicines and other medical treatments.
- Carries out minor surgeries and when necessary, arranges X-ray examinations, special tests, consultations with specialists or hospital care.
- Checks patients for insurance and employment purposes.
- Signs death certificates.
- Does house call when necessary.
- May be required to teach, carry out research and administrative duties for the department or hospital.
- Can go into private practice after service bond with the Government.
- May work as a resident medical officer in private hospitals, an occupational medical consultant in industrial companies or a medical director in pharmaceutical firms.
- May specialise in paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthetics, cardiology, neurology, orthopaedic etc.
(b) Dentist
Diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the teeth and gums.
Three main areas of duties are:
- Preventing oral diseases
- Restoring an individual's appearance
- Detecting and treating oral cancers and jaw fractures
- Restores and removes diseased teeth.
- Educates the public on how to take good care of their teeth.
- Advises patients on proper and regular brushing and flossing, proper diets and regular dental care.
- Educates patients on the care and prevention of gum diseases.
- Improves an individual's appearance by crowning or capping teeth, through orthodontic treatment, jaw surgery or by providing dentures.
- Detects and treats cancers in and around the mouth.
- Services may be required in accident cases to treat mouth and face injuries, including broken jaws.
- Helps identify murder or plane crash victims where victims are beyond recognition.
- Can choose to be a dental private practitioner, a dental officer in the Government dental service or a lecturer and researcher in a university.
(c) Optometrist
- Examines eyes and tests eyesight.
- Prescribes spectacles, contact lenses or other aids to correct or improve vision.
- Detects eye diseases like cataracts and conditions like diabetes and refers patients to ophthalmologists (eye specialists).
- Advises patients on the selection of spectacle frames and lenses and does minor adjustments before clients collect them.
(d) Pharmacist
Concerned with the formulation, preparation and dispensing of drugs and medicine.
May work as a:
1.Community Pharmacist
- Dispenses and supplies medicine, advises the public on the choice and use of drugs.
- Counterchecks dosages prescribed by doctors.
- Looks out for drugs incompatibility and allergic reactions.
2.Hospital Pharmacist
- Dispenses and compounds medication.
- Ensures the ordering of quality medicinal products and the storage of medicine in accordance with legal requirements.
- Records all drugs and medicine usage.
- Works closely with medical and nursing staff and advises them on the therapeutic and adverse reactions of drugs.
- Provides information on drugs.
- Provides counselling services for patients suffering from diabetes, cancer and asthma.
3.Industrial Pharmacist
- Works in pharmaceutical firms.
- Involved in the large-scale production of pharmaceutical products.
- May be engaged in research, production, administration, quality assurance, packaging and product registration.
- Provides medical practitioners with technical information about pharmaceutical products.
4.Commercial Pharmacist
- Works as a representative or sales executive of foreign pharmaceutical firms.
- Introduces latest pharmaceutical products to other pharmacists or medical practitioners.
- Markets products using professional knowledge of drugs.
(e) Radiographer
- Supplies information obtained through the use of X- rays and other forms of radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
May specialise as a:
1.Diagnostic Radiographer
- Obtains diagnostic radiographs to reveal or exclude illnesses or injuries.
- Assists radiologists (specialist medical doctors) in fluoroscopy procedures for examination of the gullets, stomachs and intestines.
- Needs to operate expensive and sophisticated equipment.
- Ensures patients are exposed to the least amount of radiation possible.
- May have to attend to patients in wards and operating theatres.
- Usually works in shifts.
2.Therapeutic Radiographer
- Accurately delivers the prescribed dose of radiation as determined by a radiologist.
- Works mainly in the treatment of diseases like cancers.
- Responsible for the careful positioning of patients, X-ray beams and application of radiation doses.
- Makes careful calculations and measurements to determine how radiation is to be administered.
- Communicates with patients undergoing radiotherapies via the intercom and closed circuit television.
- Counsels and advises patients on how to cope with the side effects of therapies.
- Usually works during office hours as patients are scheduled for treatments by appointments.
(f) Physiotherapist
- Rehabilitates people who suffer from injuries or disabilities.
- Treats patients with pain and stiffness in bones, joints, ligaments, tendons or muscles and those with nervous systems' disorders.
- Uses special techniques to help people with temporary or permanent disabilities to live normal and active lives.
- May use heat, cold water, soft tissue manipulation, medical application of electricity, movements or exercises in treatments.
- Work may involve lifting and supporting patients and exercising the limbs of those who are unable to move.
(g) Speech Therapist
- Helps patients overcome communication disorders.
- Diagnoses and treats disorders and dysfunctions of voice, speech and language.
- May treat swallowing disorders.
- Finds reasons for disorders and designs treatment plans.
- Treats children and adults suffering from physical disorders which affect speech and speech defects caused by diseases, accidents or psychological traumas.
(h) Nurse (Assistant Nurse, Staff Nurse)
- Plans, assesses and evaluates care for the sick and disabled.
- Must be familiar with patient's medical history and circumstances.
- Keeps careful records of treatments and responses and carries out doctors' instructions.
- Takes temperature, blood pressure and respiration rates, gives injections, administers medication, cleans and dresses wounds, drains blood transfusion and drips.
- Makes bed, feeds and bathes patients who are unable to do so themselves.
- Counsels patients and their families.
- Educates the public on healthy living.
- Operates sophisticated equipment.
- Has to do shift duties.
- May specialise in specific fields like critical care, mental health, midwifery and operating theatre.
(i) Dietician/Nutritionist
- Plans health diets and diet counselling.
- Plans nutritionally balanced meals for patients to facilitate recovery.
- Applies principles derived from knowledge of food, nutrition, biochemistry, management, behavioural and social sciences.
- Plans special diets for patients in the hospital and liaises with the catering department for their preparation.
- May work in outpatient clinics, old folks homes, slimming centres and health centres.
- Advises consumer organisations, food industries, governments and schools on food policies.
- May work as an administrative or management dietician where one oversees large-scale meal planning and preparation for company cafeterias, prisons and schools.
- Budgets for and purchases food, equipment and supplies.
- Enforces sanitary and safety regulations.
- Prepares records and reports.
Truly,
eleena
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