India
Canada
Philippines
UAE
Study
10 Important Nursing Responsibilities in Everyday Scope of Practice
February 17, 2022
10 Important Nursing Responsibilities in Everyday Scope of Practice
Nursing professionals spend the maximum amount of time with patients. They affect patient care to a great extent and are expected to perform a wide range of duties in the everyday scope of practice. Nurses play a significant role in taking care of the physical needs, mental wellness, and overall well-being of patients.
Completing nursing courses in Canada and getting trained thereafter enables nurses to master a wide range of skills that help in treating patients. If you are beginning your nursing career or studying nursing, then understanding what nurses do in their everyday scope of practice can benefit you.
In this blog, we will see who a nurse is and all the responsibilities a nurse is expected to fulfil in the everyday scope of practice.
Who is a Nurse?
A nurse is a medical professional in charge of providing patient care to individuals in need. Nurses complete their registered nursing programs, get trained, and work with a team of medical professionals to offer patient care.
Nurses work in a wide range of professional settings such as clinics, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, senior care homes, etc. Regardless of the settings in which they work, nurses are the primary care providers. They make sure that the patients are supported and taken care of at each step.
The responsibilities of a nurse might differ based on where they work, the licenses they have, and their overall experience. Some of the common responsibilities of a nurse include the following:
- Recording Medical Symptoms and Treatment Progress: Nurses are primarily responsible for recording and maintaining precise documentation of the patient’s health. This is to ensure that the patients are getting proper treatment.
- Performing Regular Diagnosis With Tests: Nurses may also perform a wide range of diagnostic tests that include blood and urine samples, checking vitals, collecting blood for analysis, etc.
- Giving Medications to Patients: Often, specialized nurses are allowed to administer medications to their patients without the supervision of a physician. That said, there are some medications and treatments that need the approval of a physician and sometimes even supervision.
- Carrying Out Physical Examinations: Nurses carry out physical examinations during the beginning of their visit to assess the overall health of patients. This includes monitoring the patient’s body temperature, weight, vitals such as heartbeat, blood pressure, etc.
- Collaborating With Other Medical Professionals: A primary aspect of the training given to nurses after the registered nursing programs involves learning how to collaborate. Nurses are supposed to collect medical information from patients and share it ahead with other medical professionals.
- Checking and Placing Orders for Medical Equipments: As nurses are responsible for performing diagnostic tests regularly, there is a need for medical equipment. The equipment can include tools such as glucose meters, stethoscopes, oximeters, thermometers, BP machines, etc.
- Offering Mental Support and Advice to Patients: Nurses have a responsibility to ensure that patients feel cared for, listened to and understood. This role gets all the more important when nurses have to deliver difficult news to patients about a medical condition.
- Advocating for Patients and Their Well-Being: To ensure that patients are cared for, nurses also play the role of advocates for the health and well-being of patients. It is the responsibility of nurses to translate the medical information provided by a doctor to the patient.
- Facilitating Patient Education: An important part of a nurse’s job is to educate patients on different medical conditions while providing clear instructions on how to manage symptoms. This includes explaining what medications the patient needs when the patient should schedule a follow-up, and giving instructions for rehabilitative exercises.
- Offering Bedside Care: Nursing professionals are responsible for various bedside related tasks depending on the specific working environment. Some of these tasks include helping patients take a bath, using a bathroom, and performing basic hygiene activities.
