Caretaker vs. Nurse: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

In-home health care and nursing, people often meet a caretaker and a nurse. Both take care and provide help to people, but both vary in skills, work and roles. The right choice depends on the type of care you need. Here, we will explain the major differences between a caretaker and a nurse, responsibilities, which is for your needs, and how to know.

Who is a caretaker?

A caretaker is one who helps people with his daily lives. They provide non-medical care to older adults, patients or people with disabilities. Carers are also known as careful or householders of the house

Responsibilities of a Caretaker

Caretakers assist

• Personal care – Dressing, grooming, and bathing.
• Mobility aid – Walking and transfer assistance.
• Preparation of food – preparing and serving food.
• Housekeeping – Cleaning, laundry and maintenance of home. –
• Assembly – Reading, talking, or playing games.
• Medicine reminder – Taking medication on time.

The caregivers are not healthcare professionals. They do not provide medical care or medical treatment.

What is a Nurse?

A nurse is a medical professional who provides medical attention to patients. Nurses do medical procedures in clinics, hospitals, and within the home.

The task of a Nurse

The following is what nurses do:

• Drug administration – Injection and IV fluids and medication.
• Dressing the wound – Wrapping and covering wounds.
• Monitoring health – Taking down blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate.
• Medical procedures – Assisting physicians in treatment and therapy.
• Emergency care – First aid and critical condition treatment.
• Patient teaching – Teaching patients and families about medical conditions and treatments.

Nurses need proper training and qualifications. Nurses possess medical knowledge to cure life-threatening illnesses.

Differences of Note Between a Caregiver and a Nurse

1. Nature of Work

• Caregivers give comfort and day-to-day care in daily life.
• Nurses offer medical treatment and care.

2. Medical Knowledge

• Caretakers are not provided with any medical training.
• Nurses receive training in healthcare and medical practice.

3. Work Location

• Caretakers work in homes, old age homes, or convalescent homes.
• They work in hospitals, clinics, and home healthcare agencies.

4. Manhandling Emergencies

• Caretakers are allowed to give basic first aid.
• Nurses can manage medical emergencies.

Which One Do You Need?

Whether you will require a nurse or a caretaker will also depend on the type of care you will require.

When To Hire a Caretaker

You should hire a caretaker when:

• The patient is old and will require assistance with performing tasks on a daily basis.
• The patient is recuperating from illness but does not require medical care.
• An individual with a disability requires assistive skills on a daily basis.
• You require companionship as well as emotional support within the home.

When to hire a Nurse?

You require a nurse if:

• The patient needs medical attention at home.
• The patient has a chronic disease that requires daily monitoring.
• Social follow-up care, eg, wounds and medicine dressing.
• The patient is receiving oxygen therapy, dialysis or intravenous therapy.
• Medicine is a danger of emergency conditions.

Can a Caretaker and a Nurse Work Together?

Yes! A caretaker and a nurse will be more likely to work together to provide complete care. For example, an elderly patient may need a nurse for health care and a caretaker for daily needs.

In case the patient needs 24/7 attention, a group of caretakers and nurses can grant the patient medical care along with day-to-day care.

Why do you need a caretaker?

Hiring a caretaker is the best solution for issues of professional child care and elderly care issues in homes. With changing times and increased work pressure, it is very difficult to take care of domestic work and care. A caretaker helps you in many ways, such as providing professional care to a child like feeding, bathing and settling. The elderly were assisted with bathing, dressing and transfer in their daily needs. Cleans the caretaker and maintains hygiene. Elderly persons have emotional AIDS and the company. Recovery in an emergency with skills and caution. This ensures that children and old people are given proper attention, to simplify the lives of relatives.

Why do you need a caretaker and a Nurse?

The work of a nurse is necessary for the provision of good health and well-being, especially for sick, old, or surgical patients. A nurse provides quality medical care through drug administration, monitors significant signs and assists in daily life activities. Compared to a regular carer, a nurse is trained to handle examples of medical emergencies, treat acute diseases and provide post-op care. Being a domestic nurse provides assurance of appropriate care for patients who require frequent medical check-ups, but would prefer to live in a comfortable setting of their homes compared to hospitals.

Nurses provide psychological support to families and patients and consult with them regarding recovery treatments and procedures. Nurses also perform an important job of enhancing the patient’s life by keeping him/her clean, in proper feeding and infection-free. For older adults, nurses help with diabetes or hypertension such as movement, dressing wounds and disease control. Under life-threatening diseases or disability conditions, skilled nursing is life-saving. With his professional expertise and kind care, nurses assure families that their loved ones are in safe hands. Whether short -term or long-term, the presence of a nurse ensures personal care around better health results and patient needs

Conclusion

Both caretakers and nurses attend to patients. But they do different things. If you require normal care, you require a caretaker. If you require medical care, you require a nurse. Study the patient’s needs before you can employ them. If you are not sure, go see a doctor or a health practitioner to guide you on the best.

You will be able to provide quality care and improve your loved one’s quality of life with the appropriate professional.