Job Description of an RN Nurse
- The role a RN plays in a doctor's office or emergency room is vital to the health of a patient as well as to the duties a doctor is able to perform. In most cases, the RN sees the patient before the doctor does. This leaves the nurse responsible to determine an initial diagnosis while also needing to properly check vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate before the doctor arrives.
- The job responsibilities of an RN largely depend on the field a nurse chooses to enter. For example, ambulatory nurses provide preventive care and treat patients who could have a variety of illnesses. These nurses often work in private physicians' offices. Critical care nurses work in intensive care units within a hospital. They are responsible for providing care to patients who have acute or serious illnesses and injuries. A critical care nurse is responsible for closely monitoring the patients in her care. Other nurses--such as perioperative nurses--are responsible for assisting surgeons by handling and selecting instruments used during the surgery. They also can assist in controlling bleeding and suturing.
- Many employers offer flexible schedules that allow nurses to essentially make their own hours with employers. While a nurse in a private practice should expect to typically work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., registered nurses who work in hospitals--particularly in intensive care units and emergency rooms--could work at any time around the clock.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2008, the average salary for a registered nurse in the United States was about $62,500 per year. In addition to a competitive salary, registered nurses often receive benefits such as child care services, educational assistance and bonuses. Many nurses will also say that one of the main benefits of their job is the ability to directly improve the health of an individual. Registered nurses often serve as the first line of defense for an ailing person who comes to a hospital or doctor's office.
- According to the BLS, job prospects for nurses appear to be excellent. Employers in many parts of the country report it is hard to retain as many registered nurses as are needed thanks to a retiring work force that is not being replaced quickly enough by new generations. Nurses are sometimes required to work double shifts and overtime due to the lack of qualified nurses working in an organization.
