A nurse is someone who is not only able to listen, communicate, and care for a patient but also has the medical knowledge to help manage the medical needs of their patient. This can be a daunting task for anyone; there are so many things that go into being an efficient nurse.
At first glance, it may seem like just doing everything your doctor tells you or that your nursing school teaches you is enough to be successful as a nurse. But there is so much more to it.
This is just the beginning of the journey. There is a lot more to be learned, and it’s important that you pursue it. There are many books and websites that can help you take your nursing skills to the next level.
What Is the Role of Nurses in the Healthcare System?
Nurses are a group of healthcare practitioners that work in and around the patient’s hospital room or the patient’s home. Nurses are responsible for providing care to patients both as they recover from an illness or injury and after they leave a hospital.
Nurses usually work in teams with other nurses and a doctor to take care of patients.
Today, nurses are responsible for taking care of patients using their knowledge and experience in a variety of different roles. A registered nurse is the most common type of nurse, but there are several other types that work with varying medical professionals.
Professional nurse paths include:
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses are the most common type of nurse, so they are most often thought to be “what a nurse is”. RNs can be qualified as either a generalist or as a specialist in certain types of nursing fields.
A nurse can specialize by obtaining a nursing degree at a nursing school, or they can also become certified as nurses through a credentialing degree. An RN usually works in hospitals or other medical facilities where they are responsible for patients with complex illnesses, injuries, and diseases.
Registered nurses must also be licensed to practice in their specific state and board.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
CNMs are registered nurses that specialize in delivering babies. They help mothers during labor and provide babies with care after they are born. An RN must have passed the CNM certification process before practicing as a nurse-midwife.
Certified nurse-midwives may work alone or in a group. They may also perform their job in the hospital environment or home. Many CNMs go on to become birth coaches helping new mothers and supporting and empowering them to conceive their next child.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) programs are mainly found in private practice and hospitals where CNMs can assist with pregnancy, labor, and delivery care, assisting with newborn care and postpartum care.
CNMs are a valuable asset to the healthcare system because they have medical knowledge that helps with both maternal and newborn health as well as low-risk deliveries.
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses must be registered nurses that have graduated with a degree in nursing and meet the requirements for the certification of their state. Pediatric nurses provide health care to children as they grow and develop.
They usually do this through direct observation and may sometimes assist in surgeries or take care of conditions that are not strictly considered medical.
Pediatric nurses may also be called child-life specialists, child development consultants, or pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP).
Mental Health Nurse
Mental health nurses help patients who need psychological care for mental health disorders. These nurses are registered nurses that have graduated with a degree in nursing and the certification requirements to practice in their specific state.
A mental health nurse can work independently, or they may work with a team of other mental health professionals, which may include psychologists, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors.
Nurse’s Requirements for Exams/Certification
There are many different levels of nursing required to practice as a nurse. The specific requirements to practice vary by state and/or government program.
Education Options
These include a bachelor’s degree in nursing or another baccalaureate degree. Registered nurses must have a bachelor’s degree and license to practice. For example, the bachelor nurse program identifies criteria that the student must meet before they graduate.
There are a number of higher-level qualifications for nurses who want to take their careers to the next level. Courses like a PhD in nursing online or even a post-graduate degree will provide you with a lot more knowledge than basic entry-level classes.
Advanced Education
If you don’t have your bachelor’s degree yet, you may want to consider studying for a master’s in nursing. There are many options to choose from, and the cost can vary from school to school, so make sure you do some research before applying.
There are also some certifications that can be obtained through programs like registered nurse certification or even becoming a certified nurse-midwife.
Certification
The level of certification or specialty that a nurse has adds another level of specialization, which may help nurses with their jobs.
Some states require nurses to be certified or credentialed in certain specialties, while others don’t require any specialized knowledge or experience at all.
Licensed Nursing
This is the first step toward becoming certified as a nurse in most states and programs, and it is required for RNs who want to work in certain facilities or healthcare industries that need RNs.
Entry-Level Job Options
With licensure, a nurse may work in a facility or healthcare setting that is not affiliated with any government or university.
It is common for entry-level nurses to work in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, as well as on reception desks in hospitals.
Career Opportunities
In some states, nurses may prepare for higher-paying positions such as head nurse or administrator. In others, nurses may also go on to further education toward becoming a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and other related fields.
Flexibility and adventures are top of your priorities when it comes to choosing your career, you could consider travel nursing. Among the advantages of this position are exploring new countries and working in one of the high-paying nursing fields.
If you are curious about the average travel nurse salary, it is worth mentioning that it depends on the state you choose to go to. There’s no doubt that it has its disadvantages too. However, you are free to take the risk and experience it on your own!
How to Prepare for the NCLEX Exam
The NCLEX is the test that will allow you to practice as a registered nurse.
The nursing board that runs the NCLEX exam can tell you which colleges and programs are recognized by them. Most colleges have a faculty approved by their state that they can recommend for the NCLEX exam, so make sure it’s a college approved by your state before applying.
While many students speculate that there is a specific way to prepare for the NCLEX, there isn’t any direct advice or tips on what to study in the weeks or days leading up to the exam except for hard work, revision, and a good night’s sleep!
The Nurse’s Role and Responsibilities in the Hospital Setting
Once you have completed your exams and got all of your certifications under your belt, it’s time to invest in your future career!
Most hospitals require nurses to manage a variety of patient-care situations as well as administrative duties.
If you want to be the best nurse that you can be, you’ll need to learn how to perform the following nursing responsibilities:
- Medication administration: Overseeing patient medication administration is one of the most essential tasks in a healthcare setting. These nurses must be able to assist doctors and other medical professionals in the ordering and administration of medications.
- Patient care: A nurse is essentially a caregiver that helps patients receive their care efficiently, effectively, and with compassion. It’s their job to evaluate the health of the patient, as well as provide information about treatment options or other concerns that may arise throughout the course of treatment.
- Patient teaching: Teaching patients specific information about their conditions is also a responsibility that nurses have in hospitals. They must be able to explain procedures or treatments in detail and determine how to address any concerns that may arise.
- Communication: While a lot of communication is done with medical professionals, nurses also have patients alike. In order to evaluate the health of their patients and provide sensitive and effective care at all times, they must be able to communicate effectively with their patients or family members.
- Patient advocacy: Nurses are the ones that need to empower patients about their choices when it comes to treatment options. It’s a nurse’s job to ensure that patients are being properly seen and cared for by other medical staff members in the hospital setting, as well as being treated as they would wish.
Become an Active and Involved Nurse
Being an active, involved nurse is a great way to make connections and gain more knowledge.
You may want to join professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) to assist in your professional growth.
The benefits of joining these groups can be used for your personal and career growth, such as providing networking opportunities that can lead to jobs, education, or mentorship opportunities.
You may also want to join one of the other organizations that are specific for nurses, like the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
The Role of Professional Nursing Associations
These professional organizations are dedicated to helping promote and protect the role of professional nursing practices.
Joining these groups may also allow you to volunteer your time or donate funds to help with research projects or other nursing initiatives.
They provide information that could be helpful in regard to developing yourself as a registered nurse.
What Is Active Nursing?
The term “active” is used in the nursing profession to describe a nurse who is eager and willing to learn.
This is important because nurses need a great deal of knowledge in order to provide the best possible care for their patients.
Active nurses are some of the most important players in the healthcare profession because they have spent years acquiring a vast amount of knowledge and experience that can be utilized in many situations.
Becoming active as a nurse will ensure that you are aware of all of your training, as well as give you an opportunity to expand your skills and abilities by sharing your knowledge with others.
Active nurses are also in a great position to be able to mentor nursing students and professionals. As a nurse, you will gain valuable experience that is needed to be a successful professional nurse.
Take advantage of this opportunity by seeking out opportunities that nurses have that are interested in learning from nurses who have more experience than they do.
Providing Excellent Patient Care
As a registered nurse, you are expected to provide excellent patient care in the field of healthcare.
The best way to ensure that your patients receive good care is by becoming mindful of their needs and monitoring the quality of care given to them.
In order to do this effectively, you’ll need a detailed knowledge of your patient’s condition and suspected conditions, as well as an awareness of their treatment plan.
Your first step in providing excellent patient care is ensuring that you fully evaluate each and every patient situation.
This includes both the patient’s physical and mental condition. You’ll need to learn how to assess and record information in the patient’s chart.
Then, you’ll need to treat the patient appropriately in order to achieve the best results possible.
As a nurse, you have many responsibilities that must be fulfilled in your daily routine.
You can become thoroughly skilled as a nurse by learning techniques such as patching wounds, managing an IV medication schedule, maintaining a detailed medication chart for each patient, performing minor surgery in an emergency situation, moving patients from one room to another, and controlling a ventilator machine.
Conclusion: How to Be a Nurse That Is Active and Involved in Their Patient’s Care
You will want to make sure that you are educated about the health of your patients and in the care that will be given to them.
You should also be knowledgeable about how to properly take care of the patients you encounter.
By taking these steps, you can become a more active and involved nurse and build a strong relationship with your patient by providing as excellent services for them as possible.
Being a nurse is about being a patient advocate, a compassionate caregiver, and an organized professional.
As you can see, there are many steps that you can take to become active and involved in your patients’ care.
