Registered Nurse Job Description
A nurse's job is extremely important, but a nurse's job is not only confined to the hospital. There are many other types of specialized nurses that give care to special patients. Like geriatrics nurses take care of old patients. Another example is of nephrology nurses who give care to patients with kidney problems. Therefore, nurses can specialize in the field of their choice. All these nurses are registered nurses.
There is huge shortage of nurses around the world. Many countries like the USA and UAE even give permanent citizenship to nurses of other countries, because there is a shortage of people getting into this profession. Therefore, this is one of the best times to get into this profession, as you are sure to land a well-paying job. Read the registered nurse job description we are providing for you, and you will know what you need to get into this noble profession.
Duties and responsibilities of a registered nurse
- Care-giving to the patients, they have to give them their medicine on time, if the patient is injured, they have to bandage their wounds
- Keep a round the clock watch on the patient and update the doctor during their rounds
- Make an accurate report on the condition of the patients
- Assist the doctors during their daily rounds, and inform them if there is any change in the condition of the patients
- Train and supervise the junior or lesser skilled nursing staff
- Prepare patients before they are taken to the operation theatre
- Assist surgeons during operations by handing them the surgical equipment as and when they require
- Assist the doctors during child birth and clean the new born babies off the amniotic fluid
- Provide education to the local community on disease prevention and proper health care
Qualifications required for a registered nurse job
- To become a nurse, one can do a bachelor's degree of science in nursing; this degree is also called BSN. This programe is four to five years long and technical training is also included
- The other alternative to this degree is a three-year programe offered by independent schools and hospitals
- The final alternative is a two year programe at a community college, obtaining a high school diploma
- All the above courses give practical training; they get to work in a real hospital during the course period
- A recognized degree in the specialized section they are getting into
Extra Skills
- Should be able to use a computer well enough to make reports
- Should be able to think and act on their own because they will have to face a lot of emergency situations
- Should have a calm and likeable personality, as they will have to interact with a lot of patients
- Should have the ability to work in different hours of the day as the nurses have three shifts
Career Advancement
Enough experience in the field of nursing can lead to the post of 'nurse staff in charge' and the post above is of the matron, who is in charge of all the nurses.