What does a nurse do?

What is a Nurse?

A nurse is trained to provide medical care and support to patients in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and community health centers. Nurses play an important role in promoting health, preventing illness, and caring for individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly.

Nurses work collaboratively with physicians, therapists, pharmacists, and other members of the healthcare team to deliver holistic and patient-centered care. They may specialize in areas such as medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, obstetric nursing, or critical care nursing, depending on their interests, training, and career goals. Nurses must possess strong clinical skills, critical thinking abilities, compassion, and empathy to effectively meet the diverse needs of their patients and provide high-quality care that promotes healing, comfort, and well-being.

What does a Nurse do?

Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of a nurse are diverse and multifaceted, reflecting the broad scope of nursing practice across various healthcare settings. Some key responsibilities include:

• Patient Assessment: Nurses conduct comprehensive assessments of patients' health status, including physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. They collect and analyze data such as vital signs, medical history, symptoms, and laboratory results to identify health problems, formulate nursing diagnoses, and develop individualized care plans.
• Patient Care and Treatment: Nurses provide direct care and treatment to patients based on their assessed needs and care plans. This may involve administering medications, performing medical procedures, monitoring vital signs, managing wounds, assisting with activities of daily living, and providing emotional support and comfort to patients and their families.
• Care Coordination: Nurses collaborate with other members of the healthcare team, including physicians, therapists, pharmacists, and social workers, to coordinate and manage patient care effectively. They communicate patient information, collaborate on treatment plans, facilitate transitions of care, and advocate for patients' needs and preferences to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Health Education and Promotion: Nurses educate patients and families about health conditions, treatment options, medication regimens, and self-care strategies to promote health, prevent illness, and manage chronic conditions. They provide information on healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and community resources to empower patients to make informed decisions and take an active role in their healthcare.
• Patient Advocacy: Nurses serve as advocates for patients, ensuring that their rights, preferences, and concerns are respected and addressed. They advocate for equitable access to healthcare services, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to address barriers to care, and support patients in navigating the healthcare system to obtain necessary resources and support.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Nurses maintain accurate and thorough documentation of patient assessments, care interventions, treatments, and outcomes in electronic health records or patient charts. Documentation helps ensure continuity of care, facilitates communication among healthcare providers, and provides legal and regulatory documentation of nursing care provided.
• Professional Development: Nurses engage in ongoing professional development activities, such as continuing education, training, and certification, to enhance their clinical skills, knowledge, and competence in nursing practice. They stay abreast of advancements in healthcare technology, evidence-based practice guidelines, and regulatory requirements to provide safe, effective, and high-quality care to their patients.

Types of Nurses
There are various types of nurses, each with their own specific set of responsibilities and areas of expertise. Here are some of the most common types of nurses and their roles:

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs): APRNs are registered nurses who have completed additional education and clinical training. APRNs have advanced knowledge and skills in a specific area of nursing practice, such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs): CNAs work under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses, and are responsible for assisting patients with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and grooming. They also take vital signs, help patients move around, and maintain their hygiene.
• Informatics Nurse Specialists: Informatics nurse specialists are registered nurses who specialize in the integration of nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice.
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs): LPNs work under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians, and are responsible for tasks such as monitoring patients' vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with daily activities like bathing and dressing.
• Nurse Educators: Nurse educators are registered nurses with advanced training that enables them to educate and train future nurses. They evaluate educational programs, develop lesson plans, teach courses, and oversee students’ clinical practice.
• Nurse Researchers: Nurse researchers are registered nurses who conduct research studies to improve patient care and advance the nursing profession. They may work in academic or healthcare settings, designing and conducting studies to evaluate nursing interventions, improve patient outcomes, or address health policy issues.
• Registered Nurses (RNs): RNs are the most common type of nurse, and are responsible for providing direct patient care, administering medications, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans. They may specialize in areas such as pediatrics, emergency care, critical care, or surgery.

What is the workplace of a Nurse like?

The workplace of a nurse can vary significantly depending on their specialization, the healthcare setting in which they practice, and the specific unit or department within that setting. Nurses may work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, community health centers, or in patients' homes as part of home health agencies. In each of these settings, nurses provide care to patients with diverse medical needs and conditions, ranging from acute and critical care to chronic and long-term care.

In a hospital setting, nurses typically work in units such as medical-surgical, intensive care, emergency, labor and delivery, pediatrics, or operating rooms. The hospital environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with nurses often caring for multiple patients simultaneously and collaborating closely with physicians, therapists, and other members of the healthcare team. Nurses in hospitals may work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to ensure 24/7 coverage and continuity of care for patients.

In outpatient settings such as clinics and community health centers, nurses may provide primary care services, preventive care, health screenings, immunizations, and patient education. These settings offer a more structured and predictable work environment, with regular business hours and opportunities to develop ongoing relationships with patients and families. Nurses in outpatient settings often work as part of interdisciplinary teams, collaborating with physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive and coordinated care to patients in the community.