RN Work and Responsibilities

RN Work

RN work depends on what type of facility the nurse is employed in. But, in general, RN work includes dealing directly with patients and their families. They are the contact between a patient and healthcare while the patient is in or out of the hospital. RNs perform frequent patient evaluations. This includes monitoring and tracking vital signs. They also perform certain procedures such as IV placement, phlebotomy and they administer medications. The RN is also usually the first one to notice if there is a change or a problem with a patient since they are in more contact with them than the physicians.

RN work also includes developing day to day nursing plans in the hospital and for care after the patient is discharged. They also work with other health care professionals and physicians to provide the appropriate health care and education to their patients. Different states have different rules and regulations about what is and what is not within an RN’s area or responsibility. There are appropriate rules and regulations inside of institutions where RNs work. Some may require physician supervision to perform a certain procedure where others may not.

RNs can also specialize. This would change their day to day duties and RN work, depending on what specialty they choose. They can choose to work in intensive care units, with patients with mental disorders, with certain diseases, by organ or body system or by population such as in a school setting or nursing home.