Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I

Specialized care settings or centers provide care to a particular group or population and are located in convenient locations within the community.

They include daycare centers, mental health centers, rural health centers, clinics in schools and industries, homeless shelters, and rehabilitation centers.

Some daycare centers extend care to infants and children, while others support elders and senior citizens. These centers help their residents to socialize and receive care when their family members are at work.

The nurse's duties in daycare centers include administering medications, treatment, counseling, education, and conducting health screening.

Mental health centers can be a part of a multispeciality hospital or operate independently. These centers provide individual and group counseling or crisis-centered services.

The crisis-centered care includes round-the-clock and helpline services for suicidal, alcoholic, abuse, and rape victims.

Besides providing counseling, mental health centers also encourage their patients to participate in activities and programs conducted within the setting and promote independent living.

Nurses working in such facilities should have excellent communication and counseling skills and be aware of the community services available to make proper referrals based on the patient's needs.