Career Information for Registered
Nurses
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Activities | Work Context | Job
Zone | Interests | Work
Values | Work Needs | Related
Occupations
Registered nurses (RN's) work to promote health, prevent disease, and
help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators
for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient
care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress
in patients; assist physicians during surgeries, treatments, and examinations;
administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation.
RN's also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and
their families in proper care, and help individuals and groups take steps
to improve or maintain their health. While State laws govern the tasks
that RN's may perform, it is usually the work setting that determines their
daily job duties.
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 RN's who have specialized formal, post-basic education
and who function in highly autonomous and specialized roles.
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