Salary.com description of RNs

Published

Specializes in ICU.

Staff Nurse - RN

Evaluates, plans, implements, and documents nursing care for an assigned patient population. Assists physician during examinations and procedures. Performs various patient tests and administers medications within the scope of practice of the registered nurse. Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals and teaching patient and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills. Requires an associate's degree and is certified as a registered nurse. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department.

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Where's the part about how I assess my own patients and let the doctor do his/her own exam? I do procedures too...

I've never found a RN description online that I'm totally satisfied with.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
Staff Nurse - RN

Evaluates, plans, implements, and documents nursing care for an assigned patient population. Assists physician during examinations and procedures. Performs various patient tests and administers medications within the scope of practice of the registered nurse. Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals and teaching patient and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills. Requires an associate's degree and is certified as a registered nurse. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department.

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Where's the part about how I assess my own patients and let the doctor do his/her own exam? I do procedures too...

I've never found a RN description online that I'm totally satisfied with.

Maybe one needs to be written by actual nurses. Any suggestions?

Blee

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Staff Nurse - RN

Evaluates, plans, implements, and documents nursing care for an assigned patient population. Assists physician during examinations and procedures. Performs various patient tests and administers medications within the scope of practice of the registered nurse. Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals and teaching patient and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills. Requires an associate's degree and is certified as a registered nurse. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where's the part about how I assess my own patients and let the doctor do his/her own exam? I do procedures too...

I've never found a RN description online that I'm totally satisfied with.

Well, that would be the part about "evaluates, plans, implements, and documents nursing care for an assigned patient population" and "performs various patient tests ... within the scope of practice of the registered nurse." I agree with you about never being totally satisfied with descriptions of the RN role (esp. from non-nursing sources), but, really, IMHO, this one isn't half bad. I don't know about you, but I and plenty of other nurses have assisted with exams and procedures over the years, so that's not an inaccurate statement (it's just not all that we do, but the description here includes plenty of other things.). At least it talks about providing independent nursing care, providing education, and promoting independence, and I like the part about "a wide degree of creativity" being expected. :) It would be nice if someone told them we're "licensed," not "certified," though.

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I think that its a fair and accurate description.." Evaluates, plans, implements, and documents nursing care for an assigned patient population."Thats the part where you assess your own patients..and technically we dont have our OWN patients..they need a Dr. to get to the hospital where we care for them.I like the description and even if I didnt, it doesnt really matter...so many descriptions, so many opinions..call it what you want..I know what I do..and the pay is not half bad either....

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Specializes in ICU, Psych.

they left out:

performs maid services, will be the patients and families waitress, will gladly be insulted by patient, family and MD while smiling, will be willing to work all requested nights, holidays, weekends and anytime called upon without due compensation.

Specific requirements will include answering call bells in less then 4.3 seconds, cleaning butts even with patients who are quite capable of doing it on their own, fluffing pillows Q 15 min., on and on....:angryfire

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Specializes in ICU.
they left out:

performs maid services, will be the patients and families waitress, will gladly be insulted by patient, family and MD while smiling, will be willing to work all requested nights, holidays, weekends and anytime called upon without due compensation.

Specific requirements will include answering call bells in less then 4.3 seconds, cleaning butts even with patients who are quite capable of doing it on their own, fluffing pillows Q 15 min., on and on....:angryfire

haha! Omg, how true. I can totally relate...:icon_roll

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