You must also be compassionate and perceptive of patient needs. Are you considering pursuing the fast-paced and rewarding work of a registered nurse? Join the IntelyCare team today , and get an opportunity to give care where and when you want!
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What does an RN do? However, some tasks are universal for every RN, and they include: Getting patients set for medical tests or treatments. Making evaluations based on test results. Administering treatment and medicine. Registering vital signs, updating patient medical information, maintaining detailed and correct reports.
Consulting and working with supervising doctors and other healthcare professionals. RNs enjoy a competitive salary, significant job stability, and a high level of personal and professional satisfaction due to the real and lasting impact that they have every single day on the lives of their patients.
But for those unfamiliar with the many different nursing titles out there, there is an obvious question to be answered: What, exactly, does a registered nurse do?
Below, we answer this question by walking through the typical roles and responsibilities that RNs perform on a daily basis. If you expect to walk into that healthcare organization and have the same day that you had the day before, you're never going to see two days that are even remotely the same. Every patient is different, every family is different, every situation is different—and that's what makes it so exciting. Registered nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings.
Some large corporations may also employ RNs directly on their premises in much the same way as schools do. Contact state boards of nursing for specific requirements. Critical-thinking skills.
Registered nurses must assess changes in the health status of patients, such as determining when to take corrective action. Communication skills. Registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and evaluate their health conditions. Nurses need to clearly explain instructions, such as how to take medication. Registered nurses should be caring and empathetic when working with patients.
Detail oriented. Registered nurses must be precise because they must ensure that patients get the correct treatments and medicines at the right time. Emotional stability. Registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors. Organizational skills. Nurses often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs. The ability to coordinate numerous treatment plans and records is critical to ensure that each patient receives appropriate care.
Physical stamina. Nurses should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting patients. They may be on their feet for most of their shift. Most registered nurses begin as staff nurses in hospitals or community health settings.
With experience, good performance, and continuing education, they can move to other settings or be promoted to positions with more responsibility. In management, nurses may advance from assistant clinical nurse manager, charge nurse, or head nurse to more senior-level administrative roles, such as assistant director or director of nursing, vice president of nursing, or chief nursing officer.
Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate degree in nursing or health services administration. Administrative positions require leadership skills, communication ability, negotiation skills, and good judgment.
Some nurses move into the business side of healthcare. Their nursing expertise and experience on a healthcare team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care businesses.
Employers—including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations—need registered nurses for jobs in health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Some RNs may become nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, or nurse practitioners , which, along with clinical nurse specialists, are types of advanced practice registered nurses APRNs.
APRNs may provide primary and specialty care, and in many states they may prescribe medications. Other nurses work as postsecondary teachers or researchers in colleges and universities, which typically requires a Ph. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U. Source: U. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In May , the median annual wages for registered nurses in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:.
Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other places that do not provide hour care are more likely to have regular business hours. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people. Nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity. The financial pressure on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible may result in more people being admitted to long-term or other types of care facilities and in greater need for healthcare at home.
Employment growth is also projected to be much faster than average in outpatient care centers, where patients do not stay overnight, such as those that provide same-day chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and surgery. In addition, because many older people prefer to be treated at home or in residential care facilities, registered nurses will be in demand in those settings. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
The link s below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. All state projections data are available at www. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state.
CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. Registered nurses play a vital role on healthcare teams. Even within a hospital, your duties can vary depending on your unit. You might work in a fast-paced department like the ER , helping patients with serious injuries or illnesses, or in a mental health unit, helping patients manage conditions like anorexia or depression.
RNs work closely with fellow healthcare staff and physicians to ensure they know about and understand patient updates and care plans. As an RN, your daily responsibilities are as varied as the field itself, but there are a few constants. Beyond the basics, where you work could make a huge difference in your role. While nurses might start at the bedside, a little time, experience, and an interest in exploring new opportunities can quickly lead you to the job of your dreams.
Many nurses even work remotely from home in triage, case management, and quality review. From entry-level work to aspirational roles, check out some of the possibilities below. Pediatrics can include patients from infancy to 21 years old , although many facilities limit the ages of children to between two and 16 years.
Job perks: Pediatric nurses in hospitals often have the same schedule and overtime opportunities as other hospital-based nurses, while RNs who work for pediatricians can enjoy perks like weekends or holidays off. Opportunities if you pursue a higher degree or certification: If you have a passion for pediatric nursing, you can earn your Master of Science in Nursing degree and work as a pediatric nurse practitioner PNP.
Job perks: Critical care nurses will likely have the opportunity to pick up overtime shifts. You might also be able to work schedules that suit your lifestyle. For example, you might work four days a week instead of five by working hour shifts, or you might work three days a week with two hour shifts and one eight-hour shift. Opportunities if you pursue a higher degree or certification: With certification and more education, you can expand your opportunities as a critical care nurse.
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