National

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes advance practice nurses such as: nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Advanced practice nursing is practiced by RNs who have specialized formal, post-basic education and who function in highly autonomous and specialized roles.

Sample of reported job titles: Registered Nurse (RN), Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse), Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN), Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse), Relief Charge Nurse, Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR), Coronary Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse)

Also see: Acute Care Nurses, Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses, Critical Care Nurses

Tasks

• Monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions.
• Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
• Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
• Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition.
• Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
• Direct and supervise less skilled nursing or health care personnel or supervise a particular unit.
• Consult and coordinate with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans.
• Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
• Instruct individuals, families and other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention and childbirth, and develop health improvement programs.
• Prepare patients for, and assist with, examinations and treatments.

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Tools & Technology

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