The Versatility of Registered Nursing Jobs Registered nurses care for patients in all areas of health care, from generalized to specialized practice. In a hospital setting, RNs are often in charge of assigning tasks and might supervise less senior nursing staff, including licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and nursing assistants. Along with hospitals, registered nursing jobs are available in physicians' offices, nursing care facilities, home health care services and public health agencies. Depending on the setting, registered nurses might receive specialized on-the-job training to prepare them for a specific type of patient care, such as women's health, oncology or pediatrics. Typically, long-term care facilities, such as long-term chronic care hospitals or nursing homes, require RNs to work lengthy shifts, weekends and nights. However, in some health care settings, such as a physician's office, the registered nurse job schedule matches the doctor's. Generally, that means RNs work eight-hour shifts during regular, daytime business hours.  Everyday Tasks in a Registered Nursing Career In most settings, registered nurses focus on patient care. Common registered nursing job tasks include the following: - Treat patients for illnesses, injuries and chronic medical conditions
- Observe and record patient symptoms
- Assess patient progress based on treatment plans
- Assist physicians in examinations and during surgeries
- Administer medications and injections
- Dress wounds and incisions
- Perform routine laboratory work
- Develop nursing care treatment plans
- Instruct patients on self-care tasks
- Provide support to patients and their families in coping with a specific illness or medical condition
- Educate patients—and the public at large—about to improve their health habits
- Supervise other nurses and assign hospital tasks based on patient care plans
Learn about the different types of registered nursing career paths. Skills Needed for Registered Nurse Jobs Compassionate Personality—Registered nursing jobs present their own unique set of challenges. Your ability to bring a caring, sympathetic nature to work each day will make a world of difference to your patients. The job can be draining—after all, patients can be impatient and uncooperative—but maintaining a caring, professional demeanor will help you achieve success. Physical Fitness—A registered nursing job can involve long hours on your feet. And moving patients, along with helping them walk, stand or perform other physical tasks, can cause stress on your back, knees and other joints. Maintaining your own fitness and health is essential to a registered nurse job and can help minimize your risk for physical injuries. High Attention to Detail—An RN must be observant, detail-oriented and responsible. Patients' lives are in your hands, and your ability to assess and manage patient care tasks effectively and efficiently is critical—from interpreting physicians' orders to treating patients to delegating assignments. Ability to Adapt in Stressful Situations—Obviously, registered nurses do not perform their duties under calm conditions 24 hours a day. Emergencies are part of the job, and you will likely witness trying situations, including severe pain, mental incapacity and even death. Finding ways to cope in these circumstances can help you manage the emotional stress of a registered nurse job. Excellent Communication Skills—Registered nurses must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with patients, doctors and other nursing staff. Along with the ability to collaborate within a health care team, RNs also must be able to analyze and interpret medical situations and make appropriate decisions in the best interest of a patient's health. Is a Registered Nurse Career Right For You? Health care is one of the few industries enjoying a high rate of employment growth in an unforgiving job market. And if you have the compassion and diligence it takes to provide quality patient care, an RN degree may be for you. Start your registered nursing career with an associate's degree, or earn your bachelor's degree in nursing to increase your job opportunities. Registered nurses can find work in traditional health care settings or explore non-traditional career options. As an example, you can earn your RN degree and become a travel nurse. As a travel nurse you can choose your assignments and their duration, and receive free housing, relocation costs, sign-on bonuses and more. If working as a travel nurse is not for you, consider another thriving registered nursing career, such as military nursing, forensic nursing or legal nurse consulting. The health care industry has a strong need for qualified, dedicated registered nursing professionals. And if you are ready to commit to a challenging and highly rewarding career that promises long-term growth, registered nursing might be the perfect choice for you. Learn more about registered nursing schools and RN degrees. Related Reading  Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
Medical Career Info, 2009
BecomeRN.com, 2009 |
