Words: 1238
The many faces of the professional nurse The title of Nurse has many applications in modern medicine. Each specific type of nurse has a different set of responsibilities: Registered nurses (Runs), Nurse Practitioners, head nurses or nurse supervisors, Licensed Practical Nurses (Lips), nursing home nurses, Home Health Nurses, and nursing aides. While there are many shared tasks, these nursing professions require special skills and different levels of patient interactions. We’ve compiled the many nursing job descriptions below: Nursing Forum: Join the discussion about urging careers and education.
Registered Nurse job description (RNA) Registered Nurses (Runs) comprise the largest group of healthcare workers. To become an RNA, students must learn what it takes to work directly with patients and their families. They are the primary point of contact between the patient and the world of health care, both at the bedside and in out-patient settings. Runs perform frequent patient evaluations, including monitoring and tracking vital signs, performing procedures such as IV placement, phlebotomy, and administering medications.
Because the RNA is much more jugular contact with patients than are physicians, the RNA is usually first to notice problems or raise concerns about patient progress. RNA job descriptions also include developing the day-to-day nursing care plans both in the hospital and for care after discharge, to be administered by families and visiting nurses. While there is a national component to RNA training (culminating in the UNCLE licensing exam), state laws determine the formal responsibilities of the RNA.
Nonetheless, because of the relatively broad nursing job description for Runs, the particular work environment determines hat the daily routine is. Nurse Practitioners job description Nurse Practitioners are primary caregivers. Several critics of the current U. S. Healthcare system would argue that the system needs many more Nurse Practitioners and fewer physicians. These nurses are often first in line to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. Nurse Practitioners have the right to prescribe certain medications, with licensing and privileges varying by state.
With increasing specialization, becoming a Nurse Practitioner requires taking on some secondary care responsibilities, including anesthesiology (certified stirred nurse anesthetists), widener (certified nurse-midwives), and certain other clinical responsibilities (clinical nurse specialists). Educational requirements to become a Nurse Practitioner often require a BBS (Bachelors of Science in Nursing), followed by additional training, sometimes requiring a Masters in Nursing. Head nurses or nurse supervisor job description Head nurses supervise nursing activities in a variety of settings.
While some patient care is usually required, the nursing supervisor’s new duties include setting up work schedules, assigning duties to a nursing staff, and ensuring hat each member of the nursing team is adequately trained. Head nurses are ultimately responsible for the performance of the nurses on their team. This means that they must ensure that nursing records are correctly maintained, that report is correctly given at each shift change, and that equipment and other supplies are in stock.
Licensed Practical Nurses (Lips) job description Licensed Practical Nurses (Lips), or licensed vocational nurses (Luvs) in Texas and California, provide the patient care on a very personal level. They usually report directly to physicians and Runs, and are usually responsible for aging vitals and monitoring in-and-out volumes, treating common like bedsores, and preparing or performing several procedures such as dressing wounds, bathing and dressing, and giving enemas. With frequent direct contact with patients, LIP jobs and LIVE jobs are important in helping patients deal with their illnesses.
In some, but not all, states Lips and Luvs may administer prescribed medicines or start IV fluids. Nursing home nurses job description Nursing home nurses manage nursing care for residents with conditions ranging from a fracture to Alchemist’s disease. Although they often spend much of their time on administrative and supervisory tasks, Runs also assess residents’ health condition, develop treatment plans, supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides, and perform difficult procedures such as starting intravenous fluids.
They also work in specialty-care departments, such as long-term rehabilitation units for patients with strokes and head- injuries. Home Health Nurses job description The aging Baby-Boomer population as led to a growth in home health nursing jobs. Home health nurses provide periodic services to patients at home. After assessing patients’ home environments, they care for and instruct patients and their families. Home health nurses care for a broad range of patients, such as those recovering from illnesses and accidents, cancer, and childbirth.
They must be able to work independently, and may supervise home health aides. Nursing Aides job description Nursing aides, also known as nursing assistants, geriatric aides, unlicensed assistant personnel, or hospital attendants, perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. As the medical industry booms, urging assistant salaries are expected to remain competitive. Nursing aides answer patients’ call bells, deliver messages, serve meals, make beds, and help patients eat, dress, and bathe.
Aides also may provide skin care to patients; take temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; and help patients get in and out of bed and walk. They also may escort patients to operating and examining rooms, keep patients’ rooms neat, set up equipment, store and move supplies, or assist with some procedures. Aides observe patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report any hang to the nursing or medical staff. 1) Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records. 00 2) Monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients’ conditions.
CD 3) Record patients’ medical information and vital signs. 00 4) Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients’ responses and conditions. AD 5) Consult and coordinate with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans. Dњ 6) Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient’s condition. 7) Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity. Oњ 8) Direct and supervise less skilled nursing/health care personnel, or supervise a particular unit on one shift.
O; 9) Prepare patients for, and assist with, examinations and treatments. 10) Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure that proper nursing care is provided. CLC 1 1) Assess the needs of individuals, families and/or communities, including assessment of individuals’ home and/or work environments to identify potential health or safety problems-on 12) Instruct individuals, families and other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention and childbirth, and evolve health improvement programs. Dњ 13) Prepare rooms, sterile instruments, equipment and supplies, and ensure that stock of supplies is maintained.
DO 14) Inform physician of patient’s condition during anesthesia. њCLC 1 5) Deliver infants and provide prenatal and postpartum care and treatment under obstetrician’s supervision . 00 16) Administer local, inhalation, intravenous, and other anesthetics. ODD 1 7) Provide health care, first aid, immunization and assistance in convalescence and rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, and industry. C]L] 18) Perform physical examinations, make tentative diagnoses, and treat patients en route to hospitals or at disaster site triage centers.
CLC 19) Conduct specified laboratory tests. њC 20) Hand items to surgeons during operations. C]D 21 ) Prescribe or recommend drugs, medical devices or other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures. An 22) Direct and coordinate infection control programs, advising and consulting with specified personnel about necessary precautions. C]L] 23) Perform administrative and managerial functions, such as taking accessibility for a unit’s staff, budget, planning and long-range goals.