The World of Caregivers

By: Araceli Hernandez Castaneda

Discourse communities are found all over the world. They are not just normal, everyday

communities but they are distinct communities that have a sense of belonging .They are

characterized by six main features that can be identified by “ The Concept of Discourse

Community” written by John Swales. Throughout this article the following are described

features of discourse communities; a public goal, genres, intercommunication, set language,

expert members and participatory mechanisms. A discourse community that I am a member of is

the community of nursing assistant students. Nursing Assistants can be found all over the world.

Even if we don’t communicate vocally and face-to-face we can all identity as a community.

Nursing aids can work in facilities such as; hospitals, long-term residential facilities,

rehabilitation centers, adult centers, and clinical facilities.

Nursing assistants share the public goal of taking care of patients to perform daily tasks.

Daily tasks such as bathing, eating, or taking treatments. Like any other medical performance

you as a patient can deny or accept any treatment or care. Patient’s dependency on their nurse aid

depends on personal preference and their health. Some patients do prefer to do certain tasks on

their own and don’t want to feel dependent or reliant on someone else. The initial requirement to

perform when coming in contact with a patient is external. Before entering any patient room

knocking on the door is essential. This is to let the patient know you will be coming in and to

ensure privacy. Another key task to accomplish when coming in contact with the patient is to

ensure your chart or your tasks are for this patient. To do this properly you must ask the patient

to confirm their name and date of birth. Privacy is one of the six key principles of being a Nurse
Assistant. The remaining five that need to be integrated on a daily basis are dignity, infection

control, safety , communication and independence.

https://images.app.goo.gl/Ue6yT8dKZ6oPtfUr6

In terms of genres only one comes to mind and this is charting. However, this is

completely in discretion to the patient, the nursing assistant and the charge nurse. Expert

members would be charged nurses or nursing assistance that have been around for several years

working in those facilities. Charge nurses or Licensed Vocational Nurses. LVN’s can perform

duties that a Nursing Assistant cannot perform. They can dress wounds, administer medications,

Provide meals that fit the patients dietary plan, starting IV fluids etc. Other team members that

you would typically find in a lot of facilities are a physician, Registered Nurses, Director of

Nurses,volunteers , etc.

Set languages or key vocabulary used in facilities are “codes”. These codes are designed

by colors and all have different definitions. For example code red would be fire. Code Gray may

mean an intruder. These vocabulary terms vary by facility. Another form of communication in

this set facility involves communication when the patient needs to be taken care of by a provider.

Nursing Assistants do not treat patients because it is not in their scope of practice but they do

communicate with expert members to resolve the patients issue or treat their need.
 This image demonstrates a pressure sore which is caused by a patient lying on their body

part for a long period of time. This can only be treated by a charged nurse, not a nurse aid.

Intercommunication would mostly be vocal in terms of the small section of nursing

assistants closest to you. Meaning you would only feel included in this group entirely because of

the nursing assistants working in your building or facility. You can also connect with different

students or healthcare personnel that are in the medical field. Participatory mechanisms can be

measured by how many patients you are to take care of and how well rounded you are with the

patients at this facility. Overall, discourse communities teach you to be involved within a set of

group. To feel belonging and to feel a sense of teamwork to accomplish a public goal. The

impact made on the community while being a nurse aid makes me feel appreciated as an

individual for something I love, taking care of others.