Nurses are an extremely valuable part of any healthcare team. Generally on the front lines of providing healthcare, the demand for nurses is expected to rise exponentially over the next few years. While nearly everyone has encountered a nurse at some point during their lives, those thinking about entering the field may be wondering exactly what nurses do.
Below, we’ll explain what nurses do, where they work and what their day-to-day life is like to help you determine if a career in nursing is right for you.
What Do Nurses Do? – General Responsibilities
So exactly what do nurses do? The life of a nurse can be an extraordinarily busy one. As a nurse, you can expect to perform some regular duties on a daily basis, such as performing physical exams and health histories. You can also expect to provide health counseling and education, along with administering medications, tending to wounds, and a number of other personalized interventions.
Nurses must possess extraordinary critical thinking skills, as they will be asked to interpret patient information and make instant decisions about courses of treatment. Nurses will also be responsible for coordinating care in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
If you decide to become a registered nurse, you likely will be in charge of lower-level nurses, such as LPNs and nursing aides. Higher level nurses will also do research in an effort to support improved medical practice and patient outcomes.
What Do Nurses Do? – Work Environment
Registered nurses perform their duties in a number of healthcare facilities. Just some of locations include:
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Medical Offices
- Ambulatory Care Centers
- Community Health Facilities
- Schools
- Retail Clinics
Nurses aren’t just restricted to healthcare facilities. In fact, nurses regularly perform their daily responsibilities at camps, homeless shelters, sporting events, tourist hot spots and correctional facilities.