Nurses play a vital role in healthcare by providing direct patient care, promoting health, preventing disease, and supporting patients through illness and recovery. Their duties are broad and vary by specialty and setting, but generally include the following core responsibilities:
Core Duties of Nurses
- Patient Assessment and Monitoring: Nurses take patient histories, conduct physical exams, monitor vital signs regularly, and observe symptoms and reactions to treatments. They continuously evaluate patients' physical and emotional needs
- Administering Medications and Treatments: Nurses give prescribed medications, perform medical procedures, manage wounds, and carry out other technical and hands-on medical duties as directed by physicians or care plans
- Care Coordination: Nurses collaborate with doctors, therapists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement treatment plans, ensuring continuity and quality of care. They communicate important patient information to the healthcare team and help coordinate multiple specialists’ input
- Health Education and Advocacy: Nurses educate patients and families about health conditions, treatment options, medication regimens, and preventive care. They act as advocates for patients’ needs and preferences, empowering them to manage their health effectively
- Documentation and Use of Technology: Nurses maintain detailed patient records, chart progress, and use electronic health record software to document care and monitor outcomes
Work Settings and Specializations
Nurses work in diverse environments including hospitals, clinics, schools, pharmacies, home health care, and senior living communities. They may specialize in areas such as pediatrics, psychiatry, critical care, obstetrics, or medical-surgical nursing, adapting their skills to meet the needs of their patient populations
Levels of Nursing
- Registered Nurses (RNs): Provide comprehensive care, perform assessments, administer medications, and coordinate care but do not typically diagnose or prescribe medications unless they are advanced practice nurses
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs): Such as nurse practitioners, can diagnose, treat illnesses, and prescribe medications
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs): Provide basic nursing care under supervision, including vital signs monitoring and wound care
In summary, nurses are essential healthcare professionals who deliver holistic, patient-centered care through assessment, treatment, education, and coordination, ensuring patients receive effective and compassionate care across various healthcare settings
