Updated July 31, 2024
Nurses are some of the most crucial employees in the country’s healthcare system. Without nurses, facilities would be overwhelmed, and patients would not have dependable advocates rooting for their well-being and offering constant support.
Because of how vital nurses are, the nursing industry is also a rapidly expanding field, with an expected job growth rate of 6% until 2032. If you’ve been considering taking on a nursing career, you must understand everything nurses do for patients. To learn more about nursing, take a look at the varied roles nurses play throughout the healthcare industry.
Caregiver
Above all else, a nurse is a caregiver dedicated to keeping patients safe and healthy. They perform this role by helping to treat health conditions, preventing illnesses, and managing patients’ physical needs. They monitor patients and record pertinent information to aid in treatment.
As caregivers, nurses also:
- Administer medications
- Care for injuries
- Monitor vital signs
- Draw blood
- Operate medical equipment
- Perform diagnostic tests
They enhance patient comfort by changing bandages and monitoring overall well-being. They’re usually the first ones to notice if something is wrong, and this allows patients to get the quick care they need. Throughout a patient’s entire treatment, nurses pay close attention not just to medical needs but to holistic needs as well.
Care planner
Nurses are often directly involved in the decision-making processes for patient treatments. They must think critically when assessing patients so they can identify potential issues.
Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants make the final treatment decisions, but nurses do have significant input because they’re the ones who spend the most time with patients.
Patient advocate
Nurses play a big role in offering emotional support to family members and patients. They make sure that patients understand the conditions they have and their treatment options while also addressing the person’s cultural, religious, and personal needs.
Patients and family members often deal with anger and frustration at illnesses and the process of receiving care. Nurses are there to better explain what the treatment will involve, helping to assuage the concerns patients and their loved ones may have.
Crucially, a nurse advocates for the patient’s legal, medical, and human rights. This is important in situations when patients may be very ill and might not understand what’s happening. A nurse helps promote the best options for the patient.
When patients have questions or concerns, nurses will also be there to address them. They can do the same if family members of the patient need support.
Educator
Nurses have to ensure that patients understand the health challenges they face so that they can make informed decisions about their own care. This is important when patients are in the hospital, but it can be even more important when they’re discharged and are in control of their own treatment.
By offering education on health conditions and what the treatment processes are, nurses will help patients stick to their treatment plan. For example, if a patient needs to take medications twice a day, a nurse will explain to them why they can’t skip a dose. With medication adherence rates being continuously low, this type of education is vital.
The education a nurse provides is not just for the patient. Caregivers and family members also have to have information, especially when dealing with children, the elderly, or anyone who’s incapacitated and can’t care for themselves.
Support giver
Patients and their families need support throughout the treatment process. Nurses have to ensure that patients understand who to turn to if they have problems or questions. Nurses need to listen to patients and address the worries they have so patients can be emotionally and mentally prepared for treatment.
Roles in different healthcare settings
The exact roles a nurse plays in a patient’s care plan depend significantly on the healthcare setting in which they work. Nurses in hospitals function as frontline workers, administering medications, performing wound care, monitoring vital signs, and helping to coordinate care plans. They work alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Nurses in long-term care facilities have slightly different roles. They have to build even stronger bonds with the residents because they are a crucial part of the healthcare and emotional support residents receive. They have to focus on fall prevention, mobility, and other issues that can help improve the patient’s quality of life.
In primary care, nurses help to prevent illnesses by recording medical histories, conducting routine check-ups, and administering vaccinations. They also focus on patient education, promoting better lifestyle choices and disease prevention strategies.
Nurses in urgent care also have a diverse set of roles. They help triage patients by quickly identifying the severity of their conditions, and they can even perform minor medical procedures, like splinting and wound suturing. Nurses in urgent care also provide patient education regarding post-treatment care.
Home health service nurses assess patient health while also creating tailored care plans. They put together treatments that address each patient’s needs in their home environment. Alongside these care roles, nurses in home health services provide education for patients and their families.
Helping patients through all aspects of care
Nurses provide medical care along with the support that patients need when facing acute or chronic conditions. Nursing is a highly rewarding career to follow because of the many roles you can play and how much impact they can have on patient outcomes.
If you’re looking to get into the field of nursing or you are searching for the right position, Prolink offers the chance to make a difference. At Prolink, we match nurses with the best travel nursing, contract nursing, and permanent nursing jobs in the US. We help you find the role that suits your exact needs, goals, and lifestyle.
Our recruiters can help match your expertise, skills, and training with employers who are searching for exactly what you can bring to the job. We can make it much easier to find that rewarding position you’ve been looking for. Contact one of our expert recruiters to learn more about the options we offer.
