What do nurses do??

z's playa · Feb 25, 2005

GOOD MORNING ALL,
Hope everyone is happy and healthy. Im just curious, how would you explain your "duties" as a nurse.... what do you do?
Be well,
Allie

I think you'll have to be more specific :chuckle

the list would be too long.

fergus51 · Feb 25, 2005

Depends on the type of nursing too. I work neonatal ICU, so my job is pretty different from say a psych nurse. I look after sick babies. I assess, I document, I implement treatments as needed, I inform the docs of changes that need their attention, I deal with families, social workers, pharmacists, respiratory and occupational therapists. As far as tasks... I start IVs, give meds, change lines, suction, insert OG/NGs, get blood work, insert catheters, change dressings, among other things.

Cheez-It! · Feb 25, 2005

And to go to the opposite end :) I work in assisted living.

I still pass meds, Accuchecks, vitals, med orders and the "normal" nursing duties. But my duties do differ a little. I am not allowed to do treatments. Assisted Living is unskilled. I do a lot of patient care like a CNA/STNA, which i enjoy. I handle setting and scheduling of appointments for residents, which requires close contact with the families. I inform doctors of changes in patient status, needs, etc. (families also) I do A LOT of paperwork, involving annual assessments, quartley assessments, referrals for home health agencies, hospice, physical therapy, or whatever service is needed. I do documenting and charting, by exception, which means only when necessary or something out of the ordinary happens. I also have a lot to do with the employees. I have to make sure their yearly paperwork is complete. I do everyone's yearly Tuberclosis testing, residents and employees. I do a lot of miscellaneous stuff on the weekends that no one can get to during the week. Things like, checking the med cart for re-orders, making sure the ATC rolls are loaded correctly and the correct dosages are loaded, check first aid supplies, and reload med boxes, check for outdated things here and there. I make sure the charts are comliant with state, and make sure the staff stays in compliance. I am a supervisor, so that fits in that category. All nurses have to delegate in one manner or antoher. If a resident is going to an appointment, I make arrangements to get them there, or I just take them myself. If they are going out over the weekend or something, I usually pack them, including their meds. I do much more than this, you do need to be more specific. And I work in a MUCH smaller facility than most people on this board, atleast I would think. So my job is much more laid back than most. No less busy, just more laid back. :chuckle

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Feb 25, 2005

Nurses wear an enormous number of hats, from desk jobs to flight nurses to private duty. It's one of the great things about nursing. You can choose from many options and if you don't like what you're doing, you can switch. It's part of what attracted me to nursing, and now I am taking the path toward nurse anesthetist. If you want to see what, say, a hospital nurse does, you should make arrangements to shadow one.