Open AccessPrim-ly adding care: Case report of a student nurse/service dog team
Author(s) -
Krysia Warren Hudson,
Marit Medefind,
Maren M. Reinholdt,
Ty Guyton
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of nursing education and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1925-4059
pISSN - 1925-4040
DOI - 10.5430/jnep.v8n2p99
Subject(s) - healthcare service , health care , workforce , service (business) , nursing , business , medicine , marketing , political science , law
Traditionally, a therapy dog has been a complimentary tool used by healthcare providers to provide stress relief to patients. However, animals can perform functions at an even greater capacity. Service animals are becoming a part of the healthcare team, by providing unique assistance to the healthcare providers rather than the patients. Thus, the workforce has expanded to include service dogs as a part of the healthcare team. This article discusses the unique challenges and opportunities provided by the use of service animal as a part of the healthcare team, as provided by the piloted use of a service animal with a student nurse in an acute care facility.