What do registered nurses do?

Registered nurses (RNs) play a crucial role in the healthcare system by providing direct patient care and overseeing other healthcare professionals. Their responsibilities and tasks may vary depending on the healthcare setting, specialty, and level of experience, but here are some key functions of registered nurses:

1. Patient Assessment: RNs conduct comprehensive assessments of patients' physical, mental, and emotional health. They collect vital signs, assess symptoms, gather medical histories, and observe patients' responses to treatments.

2. Nursing Care Plans: RNs develop individualized nursing care plans based on patient assessments. These plans outline the patient's needs, desired outcomes, interventions, and expected results.

3. Medication Administration: RNs administer prescribed medications to patients, ensuring correct dosages, routes, and timing. They monitor for and assess drug effectiveness and adverse reactions.

4. IV Therapy: RNs insert and maintain intravenous (IV) lines, administer IV fluids, medications, and blood products, monitor IV flow rates, and assess for complications.

5. Wound Care: RNs perform wound care, including dressing changes, wound cleansing, assessing healing progress, and implementing infection control measures.

6. Patient Education: RNs provide education and support to patients and their families, explaining medical treatments, procedures, medications, and home care instructions.

7. Collaboration: RNs collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and social workers, to ensure comprehensive and coordinated patient care.

8. Emergency Care: In hospital settings, RNs may work in emergency departments, where they handle critical and life-threatening conditions, perform resuscitation procedures, and stabilize patients before further treatment.

9. Case Management: Some RNs work as case managers, coordinating and monitoring patients' care across different healthcare settings, ensuring effective transitions of care, and advocating for patient needs.

10. Nursing Leadership: Experienced RNs may advance to leadership positions, where they supervise and manage other nurses, coordinate patient care units, and play a role in healthcare policy and administration.

11. Continuous Learning: RNs are required to pursue continuing education throughout their careers to stay updated with advances in healthcare practices, treatments, and technologies.

Overall, registered nurses play a vital role in promoting patient safety, advocating for patients' rights, and providing care that supports patients' physical and emotional well-being.