What Does a Nurse Do?
A nurse, whether a registered nurse (RN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is a key part of the medical team. In hospital settings nurses often provide the most patient care, carrying out the orders of a doctor, administering medications, supervising the use of medical equipment, observing and directly caring for patients, and acting as intermediary between patients and their families and physicians. A nurse’s job varies depending upon where he or she works, and certain jobs can be performed by RNs but not by LVNs because LVNs have less training and education. The difference between an RN and an LVN is largely based, as mentioned above, on length of training and education. LVNs tend to have about two years of education at either professional schools or community colleges. RNs generally hold bachelor’s degrees and have more extensive education and practicum experience. The LVN makes less money and cannot perform certain tasks. For instance, most LVNs cannot start IVs, though some can d
A nurse is a healthcare professional who is focused on caring for individuals, families, and communities, ensuring that they attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and functioning. Nurses are capable of assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care independently of physicians, and they provide support from basic triage to emergency surgery. Nurses may practice in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, private homes, schools, pharmaceutical companies (usually as researchers), industry (occupational health settings), schools, cruise ships, retirement homes, hospice facilities, long-term care facilities, military facilities, and even camps. Some nurses may also advise and work as consultants in the the healthcare, insurance, or legal industries. Nurses can work full- or part-time, and many work on a per diem basis or as traveling nurses.
Nursing is one of the broadest and most varied fields in medicine. There isn’t much a nurse doesn’t do! There are so many areas of nursing that if you get bored with one specialty, there are hundreds of other areas to choose. RNs are considered very flexible, in the sense that they can cross-train to fill a variety of functions. In order to become a nurse, you’d need to attend a nursing program which is offered at most colleges. There are 2 year and 4 year degrees. There is a fair amount of math and science that needs to be taken (algebra, biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, etc). Good reading skills and critical thinking skills are important. Best of luck.
