Primary Function of a Nurse

[KMSRN]

I am orienting a group of brand new graduate nurses. One of my questions for them is going to be, "What is your primary function as a nurse?" I have my own opinions and ideas but I would be interested in input from others. As nurses, what do you think our primary function is?

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

to be a patient advocate. there are many steps toward achieving that goal, the first is to assess. gain facts and information then review all that is gathered. question what seems incorrect. educate your patient so they might make their own life decisions while under your care. apply your critical thinking skills while also meeting your patients needs and the needs of how ever many other patients you are responsible for each day. interact with the physicians and the patients family members, poa's, concerned friends keeping hippa rules in mind at all times. assure that ancillary services are available and notified as needed during the patients stay at any facility.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Assess the patient.

Can't do anything else without an accurate assessment of the problem.

[justpoorfect]

I am not yet a nurse, just passed the first semester, but I would have to say the main function of a nurse is to utilize ADPIE to promote health and healing with the best possible outcome for each individual with whom we work, realizing that the patient's goals may be different than our own.

[RNKITTY04]

PILL PUSHER!!! just kidding. yeah.. accurate assessment of pt, education, and of course the patient advocate with the MD.

[SueBee RN-BSN]

The function of the nurse is to prevent further illness/injury to the patient. We are the eyes and ears for the NP, CNM, CRNA, and doctor. We prevent illness/injury by using the nursing process to look for problems. Some things we correct on our own, others we must call for help to get further orders. We protect patients from hazards of disease, and unsafe conditions like hearing loss, sight loss, falls, ect.. Nurses also are the last check in medication errors. The five rights are very important. Nurses do this through patient & family teaching, and functioning with other healthcare providers on the team. Sometimes nurses must protect patients from neglect of other providers.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

well, maybe i'm cheating because i was involved in the orientation of new graduate nurses. but, here goes. . .the primary function of a nurse is to help people achieve their maximum level of functioning within their environment by helping them to access and maximize the use of resources that are available to them. so, a good deal of the orientation is spent in learning what resources are available in the hospital for the nurses to use as they care for the patients. ta-da! :thankya:

[banditrn]

I've always thought that one of the major tasks of being a nurse is doing what no one else wants to do.

[peds4now, RN]

to be a patient advocate.

that about covers it, because it encompasses the nursing process and the professionalism that should be part of nursing. but i don't think you will find that as the main point in an orientation, because a real patient advocate operates as the independent licensed professional they truly are, and not an obedient employee.

[KMSRN]

That about covers it, because it encompasses the nursing process and the professionalism that should be part of nursing. But I don't think you will find that as the main point in an orientation, because a real patient advocate operates as the independent licensed professional they truly are, and not an obedient employee.

I agree with operating as an independent licensed professional.

[KMSRN]

well, maybe i'm cheating because i was involved in the orientation of new graduate nurses. but, here goes. . .the primary function of a nurse is to help people achieve their maximum level of functioning within their environment by helping them to access and maximize the use of resources that are available to them. so, a good deal of the orientation is spent in learning what resources are available in the hospital for the nurses to use as they care for the patients. ta-da! :thankya:

thanks for your response - it is very thorough and a good description of orientation. it is so much information thrown out in a short time that by the time nurses get through orientation they are in information overload.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

First and foremost, for me, is patient advocate. Which encompasses all of the above posts.

steph