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Unit 9 Nursing and Allied health professions

At the end of this session, the student will be able to:

• Differentiate nursing and allied health professions

• Tabulate the different allied health professions and illustrate their roles
• Explain the concepts mentioned in their roles, such as counselling, community
engagement, advocacy, diagnosis, rehabilitation, x-rays, sonar, scan,
radiological treatments and musculoskeletal system.

Allied health is the term used to describe health professionals who are not nurses,
pharmacists or doctors. They aim to prevent, diagnose and treat various health
conditions.

Allied professions Roles

Assessment, treatment
and prevention of
Audiologist hearing and balance
disorders.

Diagnose and treat

physiological and
Chiropractor mechanical disorders of
the musculoskeletal
system

Medical Imaging Professionals – x-rays, sonar, scan,

Including radiographers, sonographers and radiologists. radiological treatments

Assist people with illness

or disability to develop or
Occupational Therapist maintain daily living and
work skills.

Focuses on the diagnosis,

rehabilitation,
Physiotherapist management and
prevention of movement
disorders and injury.

Studies, treats and

evaluates mental and
Psychologist behavioural processes.

Helps people deal with

personal and social
Social Worker issues through
counselling, community
engagement, advocacy
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and various
programmes.

Assess and treat patients

who have a
Speech therapist/ pathologist communication
disability. Speech
pathologists may also
work with patients who
have trouble swallowing.