Treating disease

Disease treatment aims to:

• Cure the disease permanetly 
• Delay the progress of a disease that cannot be cured
• Palliate the effects of the disease, esp. to reduce pain and discomfort
• Reduce or remove the symptoms of a disease
• Rebuild or repair damage to body tissues or structures
• Replace damaged or diseased body tissues or organs.

• Bed rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Buy over the counter/ non-prescription drugs.

Informal nursing - (parents/ relatives/ carers) In the patient's own home.

Care includes:

• Monitoring health
• Supervising treatment
• Maintaining treatment
• Managing incontinence
• Providing nutrition
• Providing social contact, support and stimulation
• Communicating with support services
• Preventing pressure sores (bedsores).

Involves some of the skills of informal nursing, but at a higher level.

• A greater range of monitoring equipment will be used
• Accurate record keeping is required, particularly in transferring information to other staff when shifts change
• Expertise is also required with a much greater range of treatment procedures compared with home nursing, e.g they will know how to fit an IV; introduce a catheter and wound-care procedures
• Maintaining privacy and confidentiality.

Nurses need:

• Confidence and sensitivity 
• Skill in effective communication
• Ability to empathise with patients
• Ability to empower patients
• Ability to work as a team.

Is provided in special units in hospitals called intensive care units (ITU). They are for patients who are critically ill. 

Each patient is monitered continually. Most patients require artificial feeding via a drip and may require artificial ventilation.

Levels of staffing are higher than in other wards - eg. one-to-one or one-to-two.

It demands high levels of vigilance from nursing staff, a clear understanding of a wide range of medical conditions and treatments, as well as the expertise to take rapid corrective action in an emergency. 

Hygiene is key to reduce infection.