What Is a Nurse & What Do They Do
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Nurses are the glue to your medical experience, the largest component of the healthcare workforce, and the guides who walk patients through their health journey. If you think back to any of your medical appointments, you likely remember a nurse ensuring you receive the best care possible. As Brittany Wilson aptly puts it, “Nursing is great for so many reasons, but there is one reason that means more than any poll results, amount of money, or job security: Nurses make a difference.” Whether comforting a sick child undergoing tests, offering lifesaving medical advice, or walking a patient through some of their happiest and scariest moments, nurses have the ability to leave a lasting impact on people. Let’s explore what they do and how you can become one too!
What is a Nurse?
Registered Nurses (RNs) work with a team of physicians, therapists, specialists, and many more to help provide patient care, education about different health conditions, and they provide support and advice to their patients and families1. A nurse’s responsibilities and day-to-day schedule depend on the setting they work in and the patients they work with. Although a Nurse’s responsibility may look different depending on their specialty like Oncology or Pediatrics, they follow similar steps to provide care to their patient:
Assess patients’ conditions
Record patients’ medical histories and symptoms
Administer patients’ medicines and treatments
Set up plans for patients’ care or contribute information to existing plans
Consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
Operate and monitor medical equipment
Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results
Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
Explain what to do at home after treatment
How Do You Become One?
Embarking on a nursing career involves progressing through various educational levels, each building on the last. The journey often begins with becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), where you gain foundational skills in patient care. Next, you might advance to a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), taking on more responsibilities and requiring additional coursework. From there, many pursue becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), which typically involves earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The BSN is increasingly preferred for its comprehensive training and better career prospects. For those aiming higher, becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a rewarding goal, requiring a Master’s or Doctoral degree in nursing. Although this can be a progression or pathway you can follow, it is not required. Many students would go straight into earning their BSN after finishing high school. Each step not only enhances your expertise but also opens new opportunities in the dynamic field of healthcare.
Different Types of Nursing
There are many different types of nurses, each specializing in various areas of healthcare. For example, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) assists patients with daily activities and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) may respond to anesthesia-related emergencies. Many of the different types of nurses can be grouped into ambulatory care or acute care.
In simple terms, acute care takes place in inpatient care and ambulatory care takes place in an outpatient setting. Acute care happens in a setting where patients are under constant care while ambulatory care might be in a place that isn’t wholly centered around medical care like a school or a clinic that doesn’t typically deal with non-emergency issues2.
Now that we know the difference between those umbrella terms, let’s break down the type of nursing you can find in each setting. Can you guess which type of care a CNA and CRNA provides? (Hint: they can do both!)
Types of Nursing in Acute Care3:
Burn Care Nurse: Treating patients who have suffered burns, and in some cases, have also experienced other kinds of trauma.
Cardiac Care Nurse: Treat and care for patients with a variety of heart diseases or conditions.
Neuroscience Nurse: Specialize in care for patients with neurological conditions.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse: Provide care for patients who are under the age of 18 in the Intensive Care Unit.
Types of Nursing in Ambulatory Care4:
Diabetes Nurse Educator: Specialize in caring for patients with diabetes and provide education on diabetes management, including diet, exercise, medication management, and blood glucose monitoring.
Oncology Nurse: Provide care to patients with cancer.
Gastroenterology Nurse: Care for patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal diseases or disorders.
Pain Management Nurse: Provide specialized care for patients with chronic and debilitating pain.
Important Skills & Qualities for a Nurse
Nurses need a wide variety of skills to provide the best care to patients, who often find themselves in vulnerable situations. One of the most crucial skills is emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management5. This skill helps nurses communicate effectively with patients and their families, manage stress, and navigate complex social situations. Emotional intelligence also enables nurses to build strong, trusting relationships with patients, significantly improving patient outcomes. Overall, it is essential for providing compassionate and effective care in healthcare.
Other qualities of nurses include:
Critical Thinking Skills
Physical Stamina
Organizational Skills
Ready to Start Your Path to Becoming a Nurse?
If you’re interested in a healthcare career in nursing, there are many resources and pathways to explore. You can begin your journey by volunteering or working in a hospital or medical setting, which will give you insights into how these environments operate and allow you to connect with nursing professionals. Another great way to meet medical professionals is joining us at a Providence Ready Career Highlight! These events give you a chance to learn, ask questions, and connect with Providence’s nurses. Each event highlights different roles, from Nursing to Medical Assistants to Surgical Technologists.
Sources
1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm.
2. American Nurses Association. “What is Nursing? Your Questions Answered.” American Nurses Association, www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/.
3. “What is an Acute Care Nurse & How to Become One.” www.topnursing.org/what-is-an-acute-care-nurse/.
4. “What is an Ambulatory Care Nurse - Roles & Salary.” TopNursing.org, www.topnursing.org/what-is-an-ambulatory-care-nurse/.
5. Kwon, Hyun J., et al. “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in Korea.” Journal of Korean Medical Science, vol. 36, no. 30, 2021, article e211. National Center for Biotechnology Information, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8344623/.
6. “RN Programs - Registered Nurse || RegisteredNursing.org.” Registerednursing.org, 2014, www.registerednursing.org/.
Acute Care vs. Ambulatory Care: Comparing Your Nursing Options | Rasmussen University