Monitoring Vital Signs: Observing and recording patients’ vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate.
Administering Medications: Dispensing prescribed medications and treatments, monitoring their effects, and reporting any side effects.
Wound Care: Cleaning and dressing wounds, and ensuring proper healing.
Assisting Doctors: Helping doctors with procedures, surgeries, and patient consultations.
Patient Education: Teaching patients about their health conditions, treatment plans, and self-care techniques.
2. Planning and Implementing Nursing Care
Developing Care Plans: Creating individualized care plans for patients based on their specific medical conditions and needs.
Implementing Care Protocols: Ensuring that treatment plans are followed as per the guidelines and standards of the healthcare facility.
Collaborating with Other Healthcare Staff: Working with physicians, therapists, and other nurses to deliver comprehensive care.
3. Maintaining Medical Records
Documenting Patient Information: Keeping accurate and up-to-date medical records, including patient histories, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes.
Data Management: Managing patient information and using it to update doctors and other healthcare providers.
4. Patient Advocacy
Communicating Patient Needs: Acting as a liaison between patients and doctors, ensuring that the patients’ needs, concerns, and questions are addressed.
Ethical Care: Upholding ethical standards in patient care and ensuring patient rights are respected.
5. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Public Health Education: Educating patients and communities about disease prevention, nutrition, hygiene, and lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes.
Vaccination and Immunization Programs: Administering vaccines and participating in community immunization programs.
6. Supervision and Training
Supervising Junior Nurses: Overseeing the work of less experienced nurses, nursing assistants, and healthcare aides.
Training New Nurses: Instructing new staff on hospital protocols, nursing techniques, and patient care best practices.
7. Emergency Response
Immediate Care in Emergencies: Providing first aid and emergency care in situations like heart attacks, trauma, or severe injuries.
CPR and Life Support: Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other life-saving techniques when necessary.
8. Community Health
Home Care Services: Assisting patients at home, especially the elderly or those with chronic illnesses, by managing their health needs outside of hospital settings.
Outreach Programs: Participating in community outreach programs to raise awareness about health issues and promote wellness.
9. Administration and Management
Nurse Manager Roles: Overseeing nursing staff, managing budgets, scheduling shifts, and ensuring the facility’s nursing operations run smoothly.
Policy Implementation: Ensuring that all hospital policies and standards are adhered to and updated according to medical guidelines.
10. Specialized Care
ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Nursing: Caring for critically ill patients who need intensive monitoring.
Pediatric Nursing: Specializing in the care of children and infants.
Oncology Nursing: Providing care to cancer patients, administering chemotherapy, and supporting patients through treatment.
Mental Health Nursing: Offering care to patients with psychiatric or psychological conditions.
Core Skills Required:
Compassion and Empathy: Nursing is about providing emotional as well as physical care to patients.
Attention to Detail: Nurses must be meticulous in following medical protocols and managing patient care.
Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential when coordinating with healthcare teams and interacting with patients and their families.
Critical Thinking: Nurses must be able to assess patient conditions quickly and make sound decisions, especially in emergencies.
Stamina: Nursing often requires long hours of standing, physical effort, and the ability to handle stressful situations.