Registered Nursing Description

Registered nurses, also called RNs, are the most highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals. They work on a wide variety of medical specialties, including acute care units (such as Intensive Care Units), surgical units, emergency departments and medical-surgical units. Nurses are responsible for providing direct patient care in addition to education and emotional support for patients and their families. The job description for an RN can vary greatly depending upon the setting in which they work.

Job Description

A registered nurse is a person with an advanced education and skills in nursing. They are licensed by the state to provide care to patients, families, and communities.

Nurses work in many settings such as hospitals, clinics, physician offices, home health agencies and schools. Nursing usually involves direct patient care but nurses can also serve in administrative roles or advocacy roles within the profession.

Work Environment

You’ll work in a variety of medical settings, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. You’ll be part of a team that includes doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

You may work with many different types of patients during your career as an RN, including newborns or elderly adults. You’ll also have the opportunity to improve the health status of individuals who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease through educating them about how they can take better care of themselves and their families.

Education and Training

A registered nurse must be educated. While some schools offer an associate degree program, a bachelor’s degree is typically required for entry-level positions. Most colleges and universities provide nursing programs that typically require two years of full-time study to complete the degree. Additional clinical experience may be needed for accreditation in specific locations, but many schools offer clinical experiences during school time or as part of their coursework.

The initial training period can last up to three years and includes classroom instruction on such topics as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology (drugs), disease processes, nutrition and dietetics; health assessment; mental health issues; community resources; legal issues related to nursing practice; disaster management strategies; infection control procedures; leadership skills development courses such as communication techniques or conflict resolution strategies among peers working together at times when there isn’t clear direction from administrators above them who may not know everything going on because they’re too busy trying keep their heads above water themselves sometimes without any help from higher up officials who often don’t want anyone looking over their shoulder expecting them

Skills, Interests, and Values

• Skills and Abilities
• Interests and Values
• Interpersonal skills: Able to work efficiently in a team environment. Take direction from others without being argumentative or defensive. Able to work collaboratively, not just as an individual contributor.
• Communication skills: Good listening ability; able to develop rapport with patients and staff members; effective verbal, nonverbal communication techniques for communicating with patients, families, and co-workers; understands the importance of clear communication at all stages of the nursing process (i.e., assessment, planning, implementation).

Getting the Job

• Dress appropriately. You want to look like a professional, but you also don’t want to be overly formal. Make sure your clothing is clean and wrinkle-free, and make sure that it doesn’t have any holes or stains on it.
• Be confident! It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous during an interview, but don’t let this show in your voice or body language—if you’re too nervous, potential employers will think that you won’t be able to handle the job well. Stay calm and speak clearly, making eye contact with whomever is interviewing you (and try not to blink too much!). If something goes wrong during an interview, try not to panic! Remember how much effort went into preparing for this moment—there’s no way they’ll pass up someone who has prepared so well!

Registered nurses need the ability to work with many different people.

As a Registered Nurse, you’ll be working with many different people every day. You’ll have to work well with patients, doctors and other nurses. You’ll also need to be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

It’s important for a registered nurse to be able to work effectively regardless of the age or gender of the patient they’re caring for.

You can also work as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. You will have to complete at least a bachelor’s degree program and pass an exam before you’re eligible for these positions.