The need for healthcare service providers has extensively grown in the recent past. Among the fields in the medical arena is nursing, a profession based on addressing the needs of patients and improving their quality of life. Most people who venture into nursing have a natural will to help others and derive joy in seeing everyone in good health.
The reasons behind choosing nursing should not be monetary as people driven with high earnings may be frustrated and not enjoying their job. There are different types of nurses, including registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
Who is a registered nurse?
A registered nurse is a certified healthcare professional with A Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and holds a permit by a state. Registered nurses can also specialize in particular fields such as midwifery to make them more competitive in the job market. Here are some of the settings where registered nurses offer their services.
- Care homes
- Hospitals
- Doctors’ office
- Prisons
- Nursing facilities
Registered nurses are typically the backbone of any healthcare facility due to their vast roles and responsibilities. Below are the services that a registered nurse may offer:
- Registered nurses evaluate and record a patient’s medical history during consultation.
- Develop a personalized medical plan for a patient.
- Prepare patients for examination and treatment and may assess the results.
- Offer post-treatment care to patients and advise the family members on managing their symptoms upon a flare-up.
- Monitor medical equipment in a facility.
Types of registered nurses
#1 Neonatal nurse
Neonatal nurses care for infants with chronic illnesses such as congenital heart failure or born prematurely in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), ICU, CCU or trauma units. Neonatal nurses work alongside other medical professionals, including dieticians, pediatricians, and midwives.
Responsibilities for a neonatal nurse include initiating resuscitation during an emergency, preparing medications for babies and managing their fluids. Certification from the AACN is required for any registered nurse to work in a neonatal unit.
#2 Medical-surgical nurse
The job responsibilities for medical-surgical nurses depend on the setting. Their primary role includes offering care to injured, ill and recovering patients. A medical-surgical nurse should administer medication, assess patients, keep records, change a dressing and offer education and support to patients.
There are broad opportunities that these nurses can specialize in, including neurology, wound care and orthopedics. You require certification from the Medical-Surgical Nurse Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center to become a medical-surgical nurse.
#3 Addiction nurse
An addiction nurse specializes in offering help and care for individuals battling drug and substance abuse. These nurses assess patients and keep track of their treatment. Addiction nurses work closely with other medical professionals, including doctors, to create a treatment plan and administer medication to patients.
Being an addiction nurse also means offering emotional support to the patient and the affected families. This involves connecting them with support groups around their residential area as part of outpatient services. Educating patients and family members on the dangers and treatment options for drug abuse is also a role of addiction nurses.
#4 Occupational health nurse
Occupational health nurses ensure the safety of both the employer and employees in different work settings, including construction sites, offices, and schools. While most people exempt specific workplaces like offices from being hazardous, an occupational nurse is still necessary as accidents can occur at any time.
Besides limiting accidents, these nurses offer care to people with work-related injuries such as cuts and bone fractures. Effective communication is among the critical qualities of occupational health nurses as they need to teach employees the safety measures to observe.
#5 Gastroenterology nurse
A gastroenterology nurse specializes in administering care for patients with gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, constipation and ulcers. These nurses have different roles, including collecting samples and conducting diagnostic procedures.
They can also evaluate a patient’s medical history and review the exhibited symptoms. Gastroenterology nurses work closely with gastroenterologists to perform endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopy.
Being a registered nurse is a fulfilling career, especially now when healthcare workers are high on demand. Having the right reasons, however, is essential in your pursuit of a nursing career. If you are looking forward to practicing nursing, you can find more insight through online courses including Registered Nurse RN knowledge simplified by Lecturio.