The five-star nurse
* Care provider
* Decision-maker
* Communicator
* Community leader
* Manager
• Care-provider. Besides giving individual treatment “five-star ”must take
into account the total (physical, mental and social) needs of the patient. They must
ensure that a full range of treatment - curative, preventive or rehabilitative - will be
dispensed in ways that are complementary, integrated and continuous. And they must
ensure that the treatment is of the highest quality.
• Decision-maker. In a climate of transparency “five-star nurses” will have to take
decisions that can be justified in terms of efficacy and cost. From all the possible ways
of treating a given health condition, the one that seems most appropriate in the given
situation must be chosen. As regards expenditure, the limited resources available for
health must be shared out fairly to the benefit of every individual in the community.

• Communicator. Lifestyle aspects such as a balanced diet, safety measures at work,
type of leisure pursuits, respect for the environment and so on all have a determining
influence on health. The involvement of the individual in protecting and restoring his
or her own health is therefore vital, since exposure to a health risk is largely determined
by one’s behaviour. The doctors of tomorrow must be excellent communicators in
order to persuade individuals, families and the communities in their charge to adopt
healthy lifestyles and become partners in the health effort.

• Community leader. The needs and problems of the whole community - in a suburb or
a district - must not be forgotten. By understanding the determinants of health inherent
in the physical and social environment and by appreciating the breadth of each problem
or health risk “five-star nurses” will not simply be treating individuals who seek help
but will also take a positive interest in community health activities which will benefit
large numbers of people.

• Manager. To carry out all these functions, it will be essential for “five-star doctors” to
acquire managerial skills. This will enable them to initiate exchanges of information in
order to make better decisions, and to work within a multidisciplinary team in close
association with other partners for health and social development. Both old and new
methods of dispensing care will have to be integrated with the totality of health and
social services, whether destined for the individual or for the community