In a field as varied as nursing, there is no all-encompassing answer. Due to the vast range of specializations, care settings, expertise, and patients’ physical, biological, and behavioral needs, each nurse may have different responsibilities. Job duties can range from promoting preventative health care strategies in schools to acute treatment decisions in an intensive care unit.
The primary unifying characteristic in every nursing role is that nurses use their judgment and specialized knowledge to deliver the best possible care and positively impact patient outcomes. Nurses must be smart, skilled in critical thinking, and capable of adapting to any situation. Specifically, here are a few of the general nurse duties:
When it comes to launching your nursing career, it’s best to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Not all career paths require you to spend extensive time in school, and several options allow you to enter the workforce relatively quickly so you can start earning an income and building real-world experience.
An entry-level nurse is commonly defined as a newly licensed nurse with no more than 12 months of experience. Nurses in these roles have the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required to deliver safe and effective nursing care. Nurses in entry-level positions may have a limited scope of responsibilities and often work under a registered nurse or physician’s supervision while providing basic bedside care.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) hold at least a master’s degree in nursing, in addition to the nursing education and licensing they initially obtained to become a registered nurse. APRNs are at the forefront of technological and methodological developments in the field, which affords them the broadest scope of all nurses’ practice.
Their responsibilities include but are not limited to, treating and diagnosing illnesses, managing chronic disease, prescribing medication, interpreting diagnostic exams like MRIs and blood work, and advising the public on health issues. APRNs specialize in a particular patient population such as neonatal, geriatrics, pediatrics, or mental health.
Registered nurses are an indispensable part of the healthcare system, forming the backbone of patient care in the United States. From advising the community about critical health issues to performing complex medical interventions, nurses provide essential health care to the public wherever it is needed.
Nowhere is the versatility of registered nurses more evident than in the number of RN specializations and alternative career options. If you are interested in a nursing career but prefer to work with patients beyond the bedside or outside a fast-paced hospital environment, there are dozens of alternative careers in various settings for you to explore.
If you wish to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN), you need to complete an accredited LPN program, offered by vocational schools, community colleges, and private colleges. Students entering an LPN program can expect to take courses in nursing, biology, and pharmacology while also participating in hands-on clinical experiences. LPN certificate programs take about one year to complete.
The minimum education requirements to become a registered nurse (RN) are an associate degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). However, requirements within nursing are expected to change as states push to expand the qualifications for nurses. In many states, every position in the nursing field may soon require a bachelor’s degree. A BSN degree requires three to four years of coursework to complete.
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