When providing home health care to a client suffering from Alzheimer disease who fell and broke his hip 3 weeks ago, the nurse teaches the client's family correct use of the walker. This represents which stage of the nurse-caregiver relationship?

Question

a. Worker-helper
b. Worker-worker
c. Nurse as manager; family as worker
d. Nurse as nurse for family caregiver

Answer 1

ANS: B
A Canadian study of home health nurses and family caregivers of elderly relatives identified four evolving stages in the nurse-caregiver relationship. The initial stage is "worker-helper," with the nurse providing care to the ill client with the family helping. Next comes "worker-worker," when the nurse begins teaching the needed care skills to family members. Third is "nurse as manager; family as worker," as the family members learn needed care skills. The final stage, "nurse as nurse for family caregiver," occurs as the family member becomes exhausted. In the worker-helper stage, the nurse provides care to the ill client with the family helping. In the nurse as manager; family as worker stage, the nurse acts as manager with the family learning care skills. In the nurses as nurse for family caregiver stage, the family member is exhausted and the nurse cares for him or her as well as the client.