Nurses provide patient care in conjunction with doctors.
Nurses can expect excellent job prospects, with 22 percent job growth projected through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses earned $51,640 to $76,570 in 2008. Nurses can specialize in an array of areas, from pediatric care or gynecology to hospice care or rehabilitation. Regardless of the field of specialty, all nurses perform a range of common daily duties.
Patient Care
A nurse's main daily duty is patient care at all levels: greeting the patient, talking to visitors and family members, obtaining food orders for the patient, getting beverages or snacks, prepping the patient for surgery or other procedures and responding to the patient's needs. Typically, a nurse will be assigned to a wing of a hospital or a round of patients who need care at home and will provide care one individual at a time. A nurse should be able to keep track of the care provided for all patients under her care from memory and with the help of medical records.
Administering Medication
From chronic conditions like bed sores and cracked skin, nurses diagnose common patient problems and provide medication, including painkillers for patients in a lot of pain. Nurses diagnose the patient by observing symptoms, checking vital signs and talking to the patient. They obtain and dispense medication to the patient and are responsible for choosing the right type of medication and the correct dose range.
Maintaining Records
Nurses must maintain patients' medical records through all aspects of treatment, from initial intake to follow-up care. Hospitals, clinics and other businesses maintain their own medical records; some may have more paperwork a nurse must complete. Nurses can develop alone or in tandem with a medical team a patient's care plan during a time of illness and follow-up plan and must maintain appropriate records.
Communication
Whether working in a hospital or clinic or as a visiting nurse, no nurse cares for a patient alone. Nurses work together as a team and in conjunction with doctors, specialists and other medical professionals. Nurses need to communicate with their fellow nurses, doctors and medical caregivers about every part of a patient's care, including administering medication, taking vital signs, moving and bathing patients and answering patients' questions.
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