The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Nurse, and an Outline of Their Duties

July 30, 2023 admin

Due to the current economic crisis, many struggle to make ends meet. Most of the time, we can’t get ahead of our mounting financial woes. So, we had to wonder, what kind of work could provide us with a secure income to provide for our family and live comfortably?

You may be astonished to learn that the answer is as simple as becoming a nurse. Nurses are currently one of the most sought-after professions in the economy. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities offer attractive salaries, perks, and other financial incentives to attract and retain qualified nurses, for whom there are currently about 2.4 million unfilled positions.

Opportunities for professional and personal development abound in the nursing profession. Nurses have the option of specializing in hospitals and medical clinics, outpatient centers, nursing care facilities, and senior care facilities.

Nurses would never have to worry about being unemployed if there were a wide variety of places to work that offered opportunities for advancement. As a bonus, this edge helps prepare nurses for careers in any area of the world.

Nursing is one of the few professions that will remain relevant even as the need for nurses grows. There will always be a need for nurses, much like doctors. In addition, the nursing profession offers a wide variety of occupations. According to experts, about 100,000 nurses are needed in the United States right now, and that number may quickly increase over the next few decades. Who would turn down such a remarkable career with such enticing benefits?

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Roles and Responsibilities of RNs

A registered nurse’s job description may vary slightly from one location or organization to the next. Each state has its regulations governing the duties and responsibilities of a registered nurse. Guidelines for the extent to which nurses and other medical professionals can practice differ from one institution to the next. These regulations can be stricter than the law in some states.

Some states have developed questions that an RN can ask themself to assist them in assessing if a given action falls within the scope of their profession:

Is it permitted under the nurse practice act in the state where you currently work?

Second, did you gain this ability during formal nursing school or any subsequent training programs, including clinical training?

Have you checked the organization’s policy manual for the relevant procedure?

Fourthly, does the assignment meet the “Prudent and Reasonable” criteria for nursing practice?

If a nurse is still confused about whether a particular work is within their scope of practice after asking these questions, they should contact their state nursing board for clarification.

An essential part of a registered nurse’s job is assessing a patient’s condition and developing a treatment plan based on that analysis. Registered nurses typically work with other medical staff to ensure patients receive the best treatment and education.

However, it should be noted that state restrictions vary. When in doubt about whether or not a given duty is under a registered nurse’s purview, it is prudent to check the relevant state statutes. To ensure the RNs’ actions fall within their responsibilities, they should review the institution’s policies and procedures.

The LPN’s (Licensed Practical Nurses) Crucial Contribution to the Healthcare System

A licensed practical nurse (LPN), also known as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in Texas and California, works alongside registered nurses (RNs) to provide additional care and attention to patients.

Although LPNs are often under the supervision of physicians and RNs, their levels of independence and responsibility grow as they gain experience and education.

Some LPNs are already responsible for a wide range of services, including but not limited to checking vital signs, monitoring intake and output, preventing bedsores by turning patients, treating and dressing wounds, giving enemas, and more.

In addition to performing basic tasks like taking vital signs (height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, etc.), administering alcohol rubs, helping patients with personal hygiene, and so on, LPNs also provide a friendly face and a caring heart to patients as they make their way back to health.

LPNs provide routine medical services to patients. They provide patients with one-on-one care that nurses can’t fit into their schedules anymore.

In some jurisdictions, LPNs are authorized to start intravenous lines and provide prescribed medications. However, they do not have to worry about things like that in other states. In addition to providing direct care to patients, LPNs are responsible for educating patients’ loved ones on how to provide for them while they are recuperating at home. After a patient is discharged, the LPN gives the family all the information they need to continue caring for them at home.

It isn’t easy to provide a definitive job description for an LPN due to the variances in state requirements. LPNs in some jurisdictions are legally permitted to help with all aspects of newborn care, including delivery.

LPNs typically provide services across a wide range of medical specialties. Thus, some LPNs work in hospitals while others work in clinics, hospitals, or private homes.

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are invaluable to healthcare facilities like nursing homes because of their ability to assess patients, manage other nurses, and create basic treatment plans. A licensed practical nurse’s duties in a doctor’s office include answering the phone, scheduling appointments, and keeping patient records.

The healthcare industry would grind to a halt without LPNs. Without LPNs, it will be much more difficult for RNs and NPs to do their tasks.

While it’s clear what an LPN may do in general, what they’re allowed to do on the job will vary.

Although administrators and physicians may be at the top of the healthcare food chain, the nurses and LPNs working at the front lines make the industry tick.

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