Nurse Job Description
A nurse is a person who is trained to care for sick or injured people, especially in a hospital or clinic. Nurses provide medical care and support to patients, observing and assessing their conditions and administering medications and treatments to them as prescribed by doctors.
A nurse should be patient, quick-witted, careful, friendly and helpful, and able to relate to people from various cultures and backgrounds. They should be good at problem-solving and decision making, and able to show compassion and remain calm in emergencies.
Pursue a career in nursing if you have aptitude for science and interest in caring for people, especially sick or injured persons.
What does a Nurse do?
Nurses may do some or all of the following:
- collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- perform physical examinations of patients
- develop and implement nursing care plans
- administer medications and change dressings on wounds
- observe and assess patients and record their conditions and progress
- advice and counsel patients and offer emotional support to them and their families
- educate patients and the public on medical conditions, disease control and healthy living
- direct and supervise subordinate nurses
Where does a Nurse work?
Nurses usually may work rotating shifts including evenings, midnights, weekends and public holidays. They work in medical offices, hospitals, clinics, hospices and private practices. Job opportunities are also available in prisons, schools, and in the military. Their job may be difficult and stressful, as they may deal with terribly sick or injured patients and aggressive patients as well. While working, nurses may come into contact with diseases and bodily fluids.
What is Required to Become a Nurse?
To become a registered nurse, you will need to have an associate’s or bachelor's degree in nursing. Nursing students undergo theoretical training in classrooms and hands-on practice in hospitals.
Nurses are required to be licensed or registered by the nursing and midwifery council of their country of residence to practice. They are also required to take continuing education courses on a regular basis to keep up to date with the latest developments in the field.
just to give you an idea, some of the classes that you’ll be taking in college may include:
- Health Assessment
- Supervised clinical experience and hands-on practice
Knowledge, Skills and Attributes
Nurses need to have:
- self discipline
- emotional stability
- scientific aptitude
- manual and finger dexterity
- honesty and integrity
- physical strength and stamina
- good memory
- good eyesight
- good attention to detail
- good listening and communication skills
- good judgment and decision making skills
- strong nursing skills
- time management and organizational skills
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- observational skills
- interviewing and counseling skills
- the ability to maintain patients confidentiality
- the ability to accurately interpret and follow doctors orders
- the ability to avoid evil and use medical knowledge only for good
- the ability to handle a patient’s medical condition for the patient’s own benefit
- the ability to work well in a team and independently
- the ability to inspire confidence in others in critical situations
- the ability to work well under pressure
- the ability to take initiatives
- the ability to relate to a wide variety of people
- knowledge of how the human body works
- knowledge of different diseases and illnesses
- knowledge of nursing processes and clinical procedures
- knowledge of medical terminology
- knowledge of medicines and how they affect the human body
- knowledge of nursing ethics and laws
Should I be a Nurse?
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