Registered Nurse (RN) Responsibilities

Learning about the nursing position that is being considered can help the nurse to narrow down the many choices that are available. Through nursing school, the student will have to determine which type of nursing is right for them and choose between a nursing assistant, an LPN, a RN or even a Nurse Practitioner.

To assist in the decision making process, we have put together an outline of the responsibilities that are required of a registered nurse. Here are some of the things that the registered nurse is expected to complete through the course of her employment:

Provide Direct Nursing Care
 

The registered nurse will be required to provide direct nursing care to patients that are spending time in the hospital or care facility where the nurse is employed. This means having one on one contact with patients and completing diagnostic procedures like taking temperatures, pulses, blood pressures and while dispensing minor medications and dressing wounds for patients that are injured.

Assessing Needs
 

The registered nurse is expected to take part in a triage system if working in a critical care facility and must learn to assess the needs of the patient to determine the level of care that is required. This is often completed upon admission to the clinic, but the nurse must also be able to monitor patients to determine whether these needs are changing through the course of the treatment or wait-time.

Coordinating Diagnostic Tests and Referrals
 

The nurse is responsible for the booking of diagnostic tests and appointments that are requested by the physician. The nurse will contact the diagnostic department to arrange the time and inform the patient of the impending appointment, as well as arrange for transfer of the patient to the appointment. The nurse will also complete this same process for consults between a specialist and the physicians that are presently working on the case.

Coordinating the Patient and Their Family
 

It is important to ensure that the patient is able to remain in contact with their family and important to ensure that the family is updated on the condition of the patient, as well as on the treatment plan that is going to be obtained. The nurse can act as a liaison between the patient’s family and the health care team to ensure the family is updated on a regular basis.

Learning the responsibilities of becoming a nurse can help you to effectively make the decision of whether a nursing career is right for you.