Nurses are an indispensable element in today’s healthcare industry. Not only are they responsible for providing hands-on patient care to sick and injured individuals, but they can work in various healthcare settings like hospitals, assisted living facilities, home care companies and private doctor’s offices too. With so many on-the-job duties assigned to nurses today, there is a growing demand for nurses within our medical community.
Nursing Jobs Description
Nurses provide a multitude of patient services as essential members of the healthcare team. Their practice may encompass various areas, depending on the setting. Some common duties assigned to nurses include:
- Monitor patient vitals and record them accurately
- Provide preventative and primary care, educate patients on disease prevention, operate medical equipment as necessary, administer medications, review medical records for accuracy, prepare rooms with necessary supplies for physicians, offer emotional and physical support when needed, review any records created in-between visits etc..
- Implement physicians’ orders, administer treatments or start IVs
- Run basic medical tests
- Conduct physical examinations as directed by the physician
- Help ensure a safe and hygienic work environment
One of the greatest advantages to being a registered nurse is that these trained medical professionals can work in various settings. In addition to primary care offices, here are some specialty nurse positions open to qualified individuals.
Emergency Room Nurses
Emergency Room (ER) nurses work in hospital settings and provide direct care to patients suffering from illnesses, trauma and other life-threatening conditions. Trained to provide immediate response alongside physicians and nurses on their team, these nurses may need to assist with performing medical operations, providing bedside support or cleaning and bandaging wounds.
Nurses on Intensive Care Units
ICU nurses are registered nurses that specialize in caring for injured or seriously ill patients. This may include those suffering from stroke, needing life support, or just having undergone invasive surgery. They work within hospitals and are accountable for attending to medical emergencies.
Medical-Surgical Nurses
Medical-surgical nurses, sometimes referred to as “Med-Surg,” perform a variety of duties in hospitals, plastic surgeon offices or other outpatient surgery facilities. Their duties include keeping an eye on wounds, monitoring vital signs and changing dressings as necessary.
Pediatric Nurses
Pediatric nurses typically work in pediatrician offices and offer medical care to children from birth through adolescence. They take vitals, address common health concerns for kids, and collaborate with parents to ensure all kids get the attention they require.
Nursing Jobs Salaries
According to Nursing Process, in 2022 the average starting salary for a registered nurse will be around $59,450 annually. This number can fluctuate based on several factors such as certifications, the services provided and the type of nursing program completed.
The job outlook for nurses in this career field is excellent, particularly as the US population grows. Many hospitals and care facilities around the country are actively recruiting RNs and nurses to staff their facilities; further highlighting how much demand there is for highly-trained personnel.
For Example:
Nurses are in high demand at almost every long-term medical and care facility in America. Here are just a few of the many places looking for nurses to join their care teams.
- The Mayo Clinic is seeking registered nurses as part of its multi-hospital float pool program.
- DAVITA Kidney Care in Milwaukee, WI also needs nurses to complete their team.
- City of Hope in southern California often recruits nursing jobs for various roles within the nursing field.
Nurses seeking temporary travel opportunities can apply to be travel nurses and assist as needed in hospitals around the United States for short, high-paying stints.
Training and Requirements
In order to become a registered nurse (RN), an individual must earn either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Furthermore, they must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and satisfy all licensing board requirements in their state; this exam is administered by NCBSN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing).
One of the most essential qualities for an RN to possess is clinical experience. Most nursing students gain this through school and rotational assignments, but additional training may be necessary depending on where the RN plans on working or if they wish to specialize in certain areas of care.
Most medical facilities require nurses with technical nursing skills as well, and additional certifications such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) may be necessary. By taking these additional courses, registered nurses can become better prepared for the day-to-day responsibilities of their job.