Nurses work in emergency rooms, critical care units, clinics, doctors' offices and other health care settings. Because patients are cared for around the clock, nurses are typically required to work rotating shifts that include days, nights, weekends, and holidays. The job may also be physically demanding, requiring standing, lifting, bending and stretching.

Emergency nurses are nurses who work in acute care facilities or trauma centers. They typically have a degree in nursing and additional education or training. They must be knowledgeable about many health conditions, nursing, decisive, and able to take action quickly.

It is worth learning about the education and training required to become a nurse. By getting a quick overview of the requirements, as well as detailed job responsibilities and licensing information, you can find out if this is the career path you want.

Nurses combine management skills and clinical experience. If there is a desire to apply your clinical nursing experience within a leadership role, a chief nurse position may be an ideal fit. In addition to patient care, the head nurse assumes certain management responsibilities for nurses and support staff on a given shift. Working as a nurse is a stepping stone to a leadership position in nursing administration.

Nurse job description

Emergency nurses provide rapid assessment and treatment of patients in the early stages of illness or injury and often in life-threatening situations. These typically have a bachelor's degree in nursing and most often work in hospital emergency departments and trauma centers. Emergency nurses can obtain additional specialty certification to enhance their job prospects.

Required education includes a bachelor's degree as a minimum. There may also be additional requirements - a state nursing license. Some employers may require specific certification from a national organization. Projected job growth is 16% for registered nurses.

Emergency nurses specialize in the assessment, intervention, and stabilization of a variety of injuries and illnesses. Due to the range of medical conditions that may require emergency treatment and care, they need to be aware of common as well as specific health concerns.

Hospitals and independent emergency departments are the most common employers of emergency nurses. Other facilities that may use them include cruise ships, prisons and crisis intervention centers. With more specialized training, an emergency nurse can become a transport nurse, who manages the care of patients transported by plane or helicopter.

The work environment plays an integral role in the provision of standard services. The profession of a registered nurse comes with challenges and major responsibilities. It is a challenging calling that requires versatility and vigilance.

A registered nurse works in a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, rehabilitation centers, outpatient and mental health facilities, ambulatory care centers and private physician practices. They may also work in community centers, schools and patients' homes. A registered nurse may also have to work weekends, holidays, and even night shifts. These professionals spend most of their time walking, standing, lifting and bending. They must work closely with patients suffering from infectious diseases. The primary role of registered nurse assistants is to provide basic care to patients, as well as assist them with activities of daily living that they may encounter on their own, such as bathing. Due to the personal nature of the job, a certified caregiving role must include communication skills, the ability to be compassionate, and enjoy helping others. In nursing or long-term care settings, the nurse is often the patient's primary caregiver.

Nurses also work with medical technology such as billing software, health information software, and medical record charting software. In some settings, a nurse will administer medications to patients, but this usually depends on the level of training and experience, as well as government regulations. Nurses must have phenomenal communication skills as their job is to convey all the patients' concerns to their supervisor.

Registered Nurse Duties - General

A great job title usually includes a general term, experience level, and any special requirements. The general term would be to optimize a position to appear in general searches for jobs of the same nature.

Experience level will help attract the most qualified candidates by indicating the scope of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if the nursing position is specialized, it's worth considering including the specialty in the job title.

Registered nurses' duties vary depending on their areas of expertise. They play a key role in promoting health through a wide range of services. The nurse's job primarily focuses on caring for and educating patients and their families about early recovery and ways to prevent disease. Consequently, nurses experience patients' health concerns and needs, develop and implement patient care plans, and maintain medical records. The nurse promotes and restores the health of patients by completing the treatment process, collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members, providing physical and psychological support to the patient, friends and family, and supervising assigned team members.

Registered Nurse Duties:

• Identifies care requirements by establishing personal relationships with potential and actual patients and others who may have care requirements.
• Creates a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support to patients, friends and families.
• Promotes individualized patient care by establishing goals of care. Educating the patient, their friends and family to understand the appropriateness of medication use and self-care skills.
• Ensures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards. Measuring patient outcomes against nursing goals and standards, adopting or recommending necessary adjustments in accordance with hospital and nursing department philosophies and standards of care established by the state board of nursing, state nurse act and other governing body regulations.
• Addresses patient concerns and needs using multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintains a safe and clean work environment by following procedures, policies, and calling for assistance from medical personnel.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substances.
• Documents patient care services by charting patient and department reports.
• Maintains acceptable relationships among nursing teams by documenting and communicating activities, disturbances, and needs.
• Maintains patient trust and protects surgical information while maintaining confidentiality.
• Ensures the operation of equipment by complying with preventive maintenance requirements. Follows manufacturer's instructions when troubleshooting problems, calling technicians for repairs, and maintaining equipment inventory. Evaluates new equipment and methods.
• Maintains nursing supply inventory by checking supplies to determine inventory levels. Forecasts required supplies. Oversees the placement and expediting of supply orders. Checks receipt of materials. Verifies the use of equipment necessary to achieve work results.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending training seminars. Reviews professional publications, creates personal networks, and participates in professional societies.
• Maintains collaborative relationships among healthcare teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport and participating in the team's problem solving techniques.
• Contributes to team efforts by completing related deliverables as needed.
• Nurse secretaries are responsible for overseeing a specific department in a healthcare facility. Individuals in this position perform duties such as delegating nursing tasks, scheduling, supervising admissions and discharges, monitoring, and ordering medications and supplies.

Functions of a nurse

Ambulance providers must have a wide range of high-level nursing skills. They must be experts in assessing critical care patients, administering care, recognizing complications, and coordinating with other members of the critical care team. Successful emergency nurses must also perform the functions of excelling in interpersonal communications, leadership, strategic planning, critical thinking, and decision making. Here is a list of the main functions of a registered nurse:

• Observation and recording of patient behavior.
• Coordinates with physicians and other health care professionals to create and evaluate individual plans of care.
• Diagnosing a disease by analyzing the patient's symptoms and taking necessary measures for his/her recovery.
• Maintain patient history reports and monitor changes in their condition.
• Carrying out necessary procedures and medications.
• Directing and supervising nurses.
• Checking drug inventory on a regular basis to maintain stock levels and placing orders as required.
• Change the patient's medications as indicated by their conditions and responses.
• Follows protocols, codes, rules and regulations to ensure complete medical records.
• Maintain a hygienic and safe work environment in accordance with health procedures.
• Conducting research to improve nursing practice and health outcomes.
• Providing instant care during emergencies such as car accidents, burns, heart attacks and strokes.
• Discuss treatment with pharmacists and doctors in critical cases.
• Providing necessary recommendations for disease prevention.
• Monitoring every aspect of patient care, which includes physical activity and proper nutrition.
• Preparing rooms and decontaminating equipment and tools.
• Preparing patients for examinations.
• Educating patients' families about the disease and its treatment.
• Assisting doctors during surgery.
• Address patient concerns and meet patient demands through multi-faceted team strategy.
• Collaborate with healthcare teams to maintain harmonious relationships.
• Attend training seminars to enhance professional and technical knowledge.
• Performing laboratory work and providing complete information to the doctor about the patient’s condition during anesthesia.
• Recommendation of medications and other forms of treatment such as inhalation therapy, physical therapy, etc.

Consequently, nurses perform a wide range of tasks from pediatric to geriatric to provide adequate nursing services, making them key people for doctors and patients.

Roles and responsibilities of the head nurse

The chief nurse serves as the leader of the nursing staff in various departments of the hospital. To become one of them, you need to have a bachelor's degree in nursing. Providing a master's degree is even better. In addition to the nurse's skills, most employers consider the nurse's clinical experience, such as the number of years and various departments in which she has served.

The Chief Nurse's responsibilities include responsibility for maintaining clinical standards of patient care. To achieve this, chief nurses work closely with senior health professionals to offer advice on the best ways to improve care. She is also responsible for coordinating the implementation of new care strategies. She must have extensive knowledge of hospital health care practices, such as nursing procedures, staff policies, and patient policies. The head nurse may develop and manage patient care programs while planning new services. She can conduct evaluations to evaluate the performance of various departments in the hospital.

The head nurse may be involved in hiring the clinic. This includes interviewing potential employees, monitoring their training, and making retention decisions. She can establish new rules and guidelines for caring for sick patients. The chief nurse may be involved in the management and maintenance of nursing budgets, as well as various nursing benefits. In addition, the chief nurse may sometimes be involved in disciplinary decisions.

The chief nurse serves as the closest connection between doctors and nurses. She ensures that nursing staff offer the best possible support to doctors in their respective departments. This may require revising hospital policies or hiring new nurses. The Chief Nurse stays abreast of new technologies, allowing the hospital to easily adapt to positive changes in the healthcare environment.

As part of the charge nurse's responsibilities, high standards must be maintained that all other nurses must follow. She is also working to create a better work environment for nurses by introducing measures to promote collaboration. Her responsibilities may extend beyond the workplace as a representative or trainer at conferences and seminars. The chief nurse reviews nurses' certifications to ensure they comply with workplace guidelines. The job requires strong emotional stability, detailed orientation and organizational skills. She must be compassionate when dealing with patients and nurses, but still able to take the correct corrective actions when necessary.

Emergency nurses

Quick thinking, decisive action and strong muscles are the things you'll need for a career as an emergency nurse. Emergency nurses work in emergency settings to assist doctors and work with emergency medical personnel.

These nurses work as part of a team with physicians, other nurses, and health care professionals to provide care, monitor health conditions, plan for long-term care needs, administer medicine, use medical equipment, perform minor medical procedures, counsel patients and their families on illness, care and ongoing care after a hospital stay.

Emergency rooms are often the first line of defense against accidents, allergic reactions and any number of medical emergencies. Emergency nurses work to quickly assess each patient's needs, prioritizing care based on its critical nature. They work to stabilize the patient, treat a problem, discharge the patient after the emergency is over, or make arrangements for a longer hospital stay.

Registered nursing skills and qualifications

Nurses usually register with specialized training and education. Many supplement their training with certification in specific areas of emergency medicine. To become a nurse, a person must earn a doctorate or bachelor's degree in nursing or a diploma from a hospital with this program.

Like many professions, a person with a higher degree has better opportunities for advancement. Emergency nurses continually update their education to maintain knowledge of new procedures.

Upon completion of a nursing degree from an approved nursing program, it is mandatory to complete the National Board Licensure Examination prior to obtaining a nursing license.

Licensing may vary, so it is recommended that you contact your specific medical facility for more information.

Qualified nurses must first be registered nurses with experience in general patient care. Due to the complexity of patient care involved in this specialty, many employers hiring critical care nurses. Candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing may be given preference. Some nursing education programs offer courses in emergency care, but many practitioners learn through field training in a hospital setting. Many nurses specializing in health care choose to pursue a separate certification offered through private courses.

The ability to balance administrative tasks and clinical care is an important skill for nurses in this position. Many nurses refer other nurses to patient care by providing guidance. As shift managers, nurses may be required to document and evaluate the performance of nursing assistants under their supervision. Some nurses may help develop and implement educational programs for other nurses and staff.

Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills are critical to the success of nurses. They are expected to motivate and lead their staff, which requires them to work effectively with diverse personalities. Nurses must have the knowledge and experience to answer questions from staff and patients on a wide range of issues. Because premium nurses are required to write reports on patient progress and staff productivity, strong written communication skills are required.

Other required skills include:

• Attention to detail.
• Good organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to quickly and accurately assess patient conditions.
• Loyalty.
• Emotional stability.
• Ability to deal effectively with emergencies and remain calm in stressful situations.

Career Outlook and Salary Information

According to the survey, the nursing sector will grow in the coming years. Between 2012 and 2022, employment opportunities for nursing staff are projected to increase by 19%. The growing population of elderly people and easy access to healthcare services are some of the reasons for the increasing demand for these professionals. Moreover, the preference of older adults to be treated at home will open the door to registered nurses in residential care settings. There will be huge job opportunities for nurses in the future.

A nurse can combine the following roles:

• Manager. Nurse managers oversee the day-to-day activities of the nursing unit. They evaluate nurses' performance, mentor them, and provide feedback. The ER nurse manager ignores budgets and takes inventory of supplies, medications, and equipment.
• Nurse anesthetist. These are advanced practice nurses who work with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and medical specialists to administer anesthesia for surgical procedures. They care for patients before, after and during surgery.
• Care and transport nurse. They care for pregnant women during their delivery to the hospital and for newborns. Monitor for complications and educate mothers about newborn care. Therefore, they have excellent critical thinking and quick decision-making skills.
• Nurse educator. These nurses develop educational programs for individuals in health care settings. They provide in-home medical procedures and surgical treatments to patients and their families.
• Home nursing. The chief nursing officer holds the highest position in the healthcare industry. They guide nurses and medical staff. They also develop and implement patient care plans.
• Intensive care nurse. Emergency nurses assess patients and implement the necessary plan of care accordingly. They work in intensive care units, maternity wards, care for newborns, the seriously ill and where high-intensity procedures and regular monitoring are required.

Emergency nurses also work in trauma centers, where they admit patients, evaluate injuries or medical conditions, and assist doctors in properly treating patients. They must have a degree in nursing and be licensed, but other trauma training is also preferred.

Because salary potential and career opportunities may vary by location, employer, education, experience and other factors, potential students are encouraged to conduct independent research to determine actual earning potential.

Rapid advances in technology and healthcare have saved more patients and helped them return to health. As a result, critical care nurses are often in demand across the country. In some areas they are needed to address severe staff shortages. Due to the nature of the medical field, there is a high likelihood that a nurse will be asked to work irregular hours (nights, weekends, and holidays).

The potential of working in a nursing home or long-term care facility includes the relationships a nurse maintains with patients while maintaining job security.

However, the Occupational Study Guide for Labor Statistics notes that many nursing assistants pursue training or new jobs because of the emotional and physical toll the profession can take.

Although the tasks are generally similar, doctors typically do not spend as much time with the same patients since most are discharged within a few days at most. However, if a person is more interested in working in a fast-paced environment, a hospital may be a suitable option for him. Hospitals can also provide nurses with experience working in different departments.

I. General provisions

1. The nurse belongs to the category of specialists.

2. A person who has a secondary medical education in the specialty “Nursing” and a medical education in the specialty “Nursing” and (has or does not have) (I, II, highest) qualification category (s) is appointed to the position of nurse. .

3. Appointment to the position of a nurse and dismissal from it are made by order of the head of the institution.

4. The nurse should know:

4.1. Laws of the Russian Federation and other regulatory legal acts on health care issues.

4.2. Fundamentals of the diagnostic and treatment process, disease prevention, promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

4.3. Organizational structure of a healthcare institution.

4.4. Safety rules when working with medical instruments and equipment.

4.5. Labor legislation.

4.6. Internal labor regulations.

4.7. Rules and regulations of occupational health, safety, industrial sanitation and fire protection.

5. The nurse reports directly to (the doctor with whom she works, the senior nurse of the department)

II. Job responsibilities

Nurse:

1. Ensures infectious safety (complies with the rules of sanitary-hygienic and anti-epidemic regime, asepsis, properly stores, processes, sterilizes and uses medical products).

2. Carry out all stages of the nursing process when caring for patients (initial assessment of the patient’s condition, interpretation of the data obtained, planning care together with the patient, final assessment of what has been achieved).

3. Performs preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures prescribed by the doctor in a timely and high-quality manner. Assists when a doctor performs therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and minor operations in outpatient and inpatient settings.

4. Provides emergency first aid for acute diseases, accidents and various types of disasters, followed by calling a doctor to the patient or referring him to the nearest medical institution.

5. Administers medications, antishock agents (for anaphylactic shock) to patients for health reasons (if it is impossible for a doctor to arrive to the patient in a timely manner) in accordance with the established procedure for this condition.

6. Informs the doctor or manager, and in their absence, the doctor on duty about all detected serious complications and diseases of patients, complications arising as a result of medical procedures or cases of violation of the internal regulations of the institution.

7. Ensures proper storage, accounting and write-off of medications, compliance with the rules for taking medications by patients.

8. Interacts with colleagues and employees of other services in the best interests of the patient.

9. Maintains approved medical records and reporting documentation.

10. Systematically improves his professional qualifications.

11. Conducts sanitary and educational work to promote health and prevent diseases, promote a healthy lifestyle.

III. Rights

The nurse has the right:

1. Use conservative methods of treating patients as prescribed by the doctor, and carry out certain medical procedures.

2. Receive the information necessary to accurately perform your professional duties.

3. Make proposals for improving the work of a nurse and the organization of nursing in the institution.

4. Require the head nurse of the department to provide the post (workplace) with equipment, equipment, tools, care items, etc., necessary for the high-quality performance of their functional duties.

5. Improve your qualifications in the prescribed manner, undergo certification (re-certification) in order to assign qualification categories.

6. Participate in the work of professional associations of nurses and other public organizations not prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

IV. Responsibility

The nurse is responsible for:

1. For improper performance or failure to fulfill one’s job duties provided for in this job description within the limits determined by the current labor legislation of the Russian Federation.

2. For offenses committed in the course of carrying out their activities within the limits determined by the current administrative, criminal and civil legislation of the Russian Federation.

3. For causing material damage within the limits determined by the current labor and civil legislation of the Russian Federation.

Job responsibilities nurse may vary depending on which medical institution she works in (hospital, clinic). Therefore, the proposed sample job description for a nurse needs to be adapted to a specific work situation.

Job description of a nurse

1. General Provisions

1.1. A nurse belongs to the specialist category.
1.2. A nurse is appointed to a position and dismissed from it by order of the head of the institution.
1.3. The nurse reports directly to the head of the department/head nurse of the department.
1.4. A person who meets the following requirements is appointed to the position of nurse: secondary medical education in the specialty “Nursing”.
1.5. During the absence of a nurse, his rights and responsibilities are transferred to another official, as announced in the order of the organization.
1.6. The nurse should know:
- laws of the Russian Federation and other regulatory legal acts on healthcare issues;
- basics of the diagnostic and treatment process, disease prevention;
- organizational structure of the healthcare institution;
- safety rules when working with medical instruments and equipment.
1.7. The nurse is guided in her activities by:
- legislative acts of the Russian Federation;
- The organization’s charter, internal labor regulations, and other regulations of the company;
- orders and instructions from management;
- this job description.

2. Job responsibilities of a nurse

The nurse performs the following job responsibilities:
2.1. Performs all stages of the nursing process when caring for patients (initial assessment of the patient’s condition, interpretation of the data obtained, care planning, final assessment of what has been achieved).
2.2. Performs preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures prescribed by the doctor in a timely and high-quality manner.
2.3. Assists when a doctor performs therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and minor operations in outpatient and inpatient settings.
2.4. Provides emergency first aid for acute diseases, accidents and various types of disasters, followed by calling a doctor to the patient or referring him to the nearest medical institution.
2.5. Administers medications, antishock agents (for anaphylactic shock) to patients for health reasons (if it is impossible for a doctor to arrive to the patient in a timely manner) in accordance with the established procedure for this condition.
2.6. Informs the doctor or manager, and in their absence, the doctor on duty about all detected serious complications and diseases of patients, complications arising as a result of medical procedures or cases of violation of the internal regulations of the institution.
2.7. Ensures proper storage, accounting and write-off of medications, and compliance with the rules for taking medications by patients.
2.8. Maintains approved medical records and reporting documentation.

3. Rights of a nurse

The nurse has the right:
3.1. Receive the information necessary to accurately perform your professional duties.
3.2. Make proposals for improving the work of a nurse and the organization of nursing in the institution.
3.3. Require the head nurse of the department to provide the post (workplace) with equipment, equipment, tools, care items, etc., necessary for the high-quality performance of their functional duties.
3.4. Improve your qualifications in the prescribed manner, undergo certification (re-certification) in order to assign qualification categories.
3.5. Participate in the work of professional nursing associations and other public organizations not prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

4. Responsibility of the nurse

The nurse is responsible for:
4.1. For failure to perform and/or untimely, negligent performance of one’s official duties.
4.2. For failure to comply with current instructions, orders and instructions for maintaining confidential information.
4.3. For violation of internal labor regulations, labor discipline, safety and fire safety rules.

The nurse must have broad knowledge. She needs to become familiar with and have a clear understanding of all the laws relating to the health care system. The nurse must also know what rights she has when carrying out her work.

The guidelines for its activities are:

• the doctor's orders to which she obeys;
• the charter of the medical institution in which she works;
• compliance with hygiene standards;
• work schedule;
• job description (the currently valid one is taken as a basis).

History of the profession

Medicine has existed since ancient times. But such a profession as a nurse did not stand out for a long time. Its functions were performed by students of doctors. Subsequently, they themselves began medical practice.

The emergence of the nursing profession dates back to the 11th century. Its representatives belonged to communities that existed in Western European countries. The workers were called sisters of mercy.

Initially, nurses cared only for the fairer sex. But due to the needs that wars brought, their activities extended to the wounded.

The first hospital opened in 1228, providing shelter and care for the poor. Its founder was the Hungarian Countess Elizabeth of Thuringia. She founded it with her own funds. The workers of this hospital were called “Elizabethans.”

This period saw a high level of construction of similar institutions in all European countries. Ultimately, nurses received a new name - “hospitalists.”

At the beginning of the 17th century, a new milestone began in the history of nursing. The first community appears where girls and women are trained to care for the sick. Since then, the profession has developed rapidly. The activities of nurses extend not only to orphans, lepers and the sick, but also to soldiers. Over time, they are involved as assistants in operations. The profession is gaining wide popularity. The ranks of nurses are filled with ladies of high society.

What are the responsibilities of a nurse

The modern nurse has a wide range of responsibilities. She is an indispensable assistant to any doctor.

The functional responsibilities of a nurse include the following:

• nursing;
• provision of medical care until a doctor appears;
• disinfection of instruments;
• preparation of material for dressings and other treatments;
• control over the storage and use of medicines.

The functional responsibilities of a nurse involve recording evidence about the patient’s condition and ensuring that he undergoes appropriate medical procedures.

She puts in IVs and gives injections in the hospital, takes blood for analysis, prepares instruments for surgery, measures blood pressure, bandages wounds, etc.

The functional responsibilities of a nurse at a children's clinic include monitoring a sick child and giving advice to his parents about caring for the baby at home. Nurses fill out cards, checklists, and certificates.

In the operating room, a worker of this profile is obliged to ensure that a set of all necessary instruments is available. She helps the surgeon, promptly bringing the required instrument at his request.

In school and kindergarten institutions, the nurse is responsible for ensuring that children receive seasonal and scheduled vaccinations.

What are the responsibilities of a procedural nurse?

The treatment room employee is subordinate to the head nurse of the department. The functional responsibilities of the procedural nurse include performing all manipulations in strict accordance with the doctor’s instructions. At the same time, strict records are kept. All data is entered into a log. Possible complications after the procedure are also indicated.

If a complication occurs after a manipulation performed on a patient, the nurse is obliged to notify the attending physician about this and provide assistance to the patient in accordance with existing instructions.

The procedural nurse has the right (in accordance with the doctor’s prescription):

• take blood from the patient and transport it to the laboratory;
• determine blood belonging to one or another group;
• carry out all kinds of injections.

During the procedure, the nurse must observe hygiene standards, as well as adhere to the rules for the prevention of infectious diseases, complications after injection, and an anaphylactic reaction of the body to the medicine used.

The treatment room must be equipped with appropriate medical instruments, dressing material, and medications.

The nurse strictly monitors the expiration dates of all medications. It ensures timely delivery of blood to the laboratory for analysis and ensures convenience for the patient during manipulations.

An office nurse can act as a physician assistant:

• when determining blood group and rhesus;
• during transfusion of blood and its analogues;
• during spinal cord puncture;
• when taking samples for allergies;
• during the administration of drugs to patients with severe illness (the effect of the drugs may not be fully studied).

What are the functions of a clinic nurse

These nurses are classified as specialists. They must have an incomplete higher education (specialist) or a certificate of basic higher education (bachelor) in the specialty “nursing,” “general medicine,” or “midwifery.”

The functional responsibilities of a clinic nurse include:

• following doctor's orders;
• Carrying out procedural manipulations according to the work profile;
• assistance during operations on an outpatient basis;
• taking blood for analysis and ensuring its delivery to the laboratory;
• providing care to patients in an outpatient clinic as well as at home;
• resuscitation of the patient;
• providing assistance in case of injury, blood loss, intoxication, shock, drowning, burns, frostbite, allergies.

Clinic nurses should understand the following issues:

• laws;
• regulatory documentation;
• regulations of the medical institution in which they work;
• rights and functions;
• principles of operation of outpatient facilities;
• rules for caring for sick people;
• basics of medical examination of citizens;
• pharmacological effects of essential drugs;
• methods of sterilization of instruments;
• hygiene organization;
• preparation of a therapeutic diet;
• safety rules when manipulating medical instruments.

A nurse at this level is involved in informing the population about preventive measures taken against diseases and their possible complications.

A clinic nurse must constantly improve her professionalism.

What are the responsibilities of a department nurse?

The functional responsibilities of the department nurse are as follows:

• monitoring the general condition of the patient;
• implementation of patient care activities;
• fulfilling prescriptions given by the doctor;
• communication on a professional level with medical personnel, patients and their relatives;
• preparing patients for examinations;
• compliance with hygiene standards in the department;
• maintaining documents in the prescribed form.

A nurse working in the department must be able to do all types of injections and use a sterile table and tray. She is obliged to change the patient’s underwear, both underwear and sleeping. Her responsibilities include measuring the patient's temperature, pulse and blood pressure. The obtained data is clearly recorded in the patient’s graphic sheet. The department nurse knows how to fill out all the necessary documentation.

In addition, her responsibilities include:

• preparing bixes for sterilization;
• taking an ECG;
• applying compresses, cupping, enemas and heating pads;
• tying the limbs with an elastic bandage;
• implementation of preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of bedsores;
• gastric lavage;
• acceptance and handing over of duty.

District nurse

The district nurse carries out diagnostic and treatment procedures in accordance with the doctor’s prescription.

The functional responsibilities of a district nurse are quite broad. She must prepare the office to receive patients. Under the supervision of a doctor, certificates are issued, prescriptions are issued, referrals for examinations and other medical documentation is completed.

The nurse tells patients about the stages of preparation for a particular procedure, issues coupons for a second visit to the doctor, and hands over sheets for registering patients with the doctor to the reception desk. Responsible for timely receipt of test answers and posting them on cards.

The nurse must be able to measure blood pressure, temperature and perform other medical procedures as directed by the doctor. It collects material for bacteriological culture. A community nurse visits patients at home and monitors their treatment. Under the guidance of a doctor, she carries out preventive vaccinations.

The district nurse must constantly work on his professional improvement.

Responsibilities of the head nurse

The main vocation of the head nurse is to use with maximum efficiency the professionalism of the department's staff in order to provide medical care at a high level.

The head nurse of the department is appointed in accordance with the recommendation of the head. This position is usually filled by a nurse with a high level of professionalism. She must have management skills. She has at least 5 years of experience working in a medical facility. As a financially responsible person, she monitors the equipment and equipment in the department. The head nurse takes part in all meetings held on the hospital ward.

A specialist of this level acts as an organizer of work for mid- and junior-level medical personnel, and is responsible for discipline in the team and maintaining order at work.

The functional responsibilities of the head nurse include drawing up reports for the supply of necessary equipment, medicines and instruments.

The head nurse is responsible for occupational health and safety. She personally draws up the work schedule of her subordinates and allocates their vacation time. She maintains payroll records and issues sick leave certificates for temporarily disabled employees.

A nurse of this profile keeps records of medications containing toxic, narcotic and potent substances and controls their use. Its functions include monitoring the cleanliness of dressings and sterilization of medical instruments.