It seems some Nurses don't do much...?

[haitianrn]

I will be starting school this Fall and Im excited at a career in nursing;

I am impressed by how much knowledge nurses need to know for Boards, clinicals, and such. In the past though, while a patient at hospitals, it seems like the nurses I had didnt do much except take my blood pressure, weigh me, and ask me questions about my health (While I was pregnant and seeing the OB GYN). Thinking of that makes me a bit disappointed, cause I hope to do more procedures as a nurse and also hope to educate patients more. I dont just want to take blood pressure and weigh a patient! And these Nurses I am talking about were RN's at a major hospital.

Does it all depend on the specialty? Does anyone else feel this way?

[megananne7]

On my unit, vitals and such are usually done by the CNA or PCT assigned to that patient. Most of my time is spent passing meds, charting, nursing skills, admissions/discharges, etc.

[HisTreasure, BSN, RN]

There is often a lot of background work that nurses do that the general public doesn't see or acknowledge. The tasks you discuss are the ultimate responsibility of the RN/LPN but will often be delegated to properly trained PCTs/CNAs. There is a lot of charting, wound care, monitoring, interventions, care planning, etc. that the RN will do based on specialty. In the outpatient basis you will see the nurse doing more of the tasks you speak of but do believe they are doing other things as well once they walk out of your examining room. Good luck with school and welcome to nursing!

[ChristyMNOP]

I think you experience has more to do with your actual health state vs. what the nurse was doing. I.E. the sicker you are, the more procedures you will see. If you were just in for routine pregnancy issues and delivery, you wouldn't see anything impressive skill-wise. However, if you had encountered a problem, you would've probably seen a myriad of nursing interventions and skills but probably still would've been too sick to care. HTH.

[RNperdiem, RN]

You need to come to our unit when a new trauma patient rolls in. Nurses run the show in ICU.

I would recommend a hospital job as a student. Even working a few hours a week as a CNA will get you a behind the scenes look at nursing.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

It sounds like you are refering to a clinic nurse, and they don't do a lot of highly technical stuff most likely, but they are nevertheless very knowledgable about the overall care of patients. They do quite a bit behind the scenes to coordinate care. Sometimes they are not actually a licensed nurse, but are a Medical Assistant, which is not actually a nurse. Believe me, doctor office personnel are very busy and their jobs are not simple! I, as an acute care R.N., would not have a clue as to all that they do.

Nursing is very specialized you'll find out.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

There is not a lot to do for semi-healthy people. The next patient might have gotten tons of attention. Also, nurses are hired more for their brain than their back. A lot of what we do is not visible to the public.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

Everyone's job looks easy......from afar....:bowingpur

[trace_element]

I just quit my job as a night shift psych nurse......the pay and hours were good but it was SO boring! I felt guilty. I want something more challenging!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

A nurse's responsibilities vary greatly depending on the setting and the patient.

If you spend a shift or even part of a shift with me -- eat, drink and pee before you get here, and wear your running shoes.

[BookwormRN]

I don't know about anyone else, but my job on Med/Surg is (Usually) anything but boring!

Let's see---hit the floor running between 1530-1600...Chems to do, insulin to give, assessments to complete-don't forget about that direct admit coming from the clinic with a Hgb of 8.0 that will need two units of blood...

Another pt with new dx of pneumonia--needs atbx...labs are off...Dr calls and wants the low-down, but you don't have the chart, because it's else where.....UGH-don't forget about your fresh surgical with the PCA pump that needs checking q2 hours...and they need to get up and take their first walk. Oh, and the pt in room such and such is now having pain and wants pain medication, even though you were in the room 5 minutes ago and they stated they have no pain what-so-ever. At that moment the CNA tells you that there is a blood bath in the room across the hall, because the IV "fell out." (and it just so happens to be the pt who will now need IV atbx STAT)

Yup-anything but boring!

[CVICURN2003]

I had a high risk pregnacy and the nurses at my large suburban hospital worked their tails off to keep me and my son alive. After 6 months...they knew when I was their patient, it would not be an easy day...unless it was a rare day we didn't try to die. I will be forever greatful to those nurses. And I hope they had a walkie talkie next to me because I certainly worked their tail off.

Until, you have walked in our shoes (or actually ran), not sat down for twelve hours, coded your patient three times you can never know what it is like in any part of nursing. I would expect even clinic nursing could get stressful.

I also suggest you get an a job in a hospital to see what we do...oh and make sure you can hold you pee for at least 8 hours, can do 10 things at one time and eat either in