Imagine rushing to the hospital in an emergency, and you meet a nurse while you expected a doctor. It might make you worried, but you shouldn’t be. Nurses do many things that doctors do. Nurses are known as the heart of the health care system. They have firsthand knowledge of what the patient needs and how to make them comfortable. Their round-the-clock presence, vigilance, and observational skills allow them to plan appropriate treatment. An attentive nurse has saved so many lives worldwide because they picked the warning signs of an upcoming emergency at the right time.
We all must acknowledge that the nursing profession has expanded with time. Now, nurses are researchers, health policy advocators, educators, and the likes. They have advanced their careers to expand their role far more than it had been at inception. Considering the drastic impacts and changes our society has recently undergone, it is essential to recognize their contribution. Nursing is a highly sought-after profession that requires advanced training. So, if you aspire to be a successful nurse, advanced degree programs are the way to it. However, to fit your busy schedule, several prestigious universities now offer online master’s nursing programs that are easily accessible to interested candidates. Nurses do a range of procedures, from specific to general ones, and so their schedule also varies. In this article, you can learn about how a nurse covers every aspect of the healthcare system and what duties do they perform.
- Patient’s Caregiver
A nurse is the primary caregiver of the patients. They help to manage their physical needs, prevent illness and treat the condition. To do this, they go through the assessment phase, gather the data to determine the patient’s state of health, and identify the factors that may help in improving the condition.
The care provided by the nurse is beyond just the administration of medicines and therapies. During the assessment, they should be alert of any co-morbidity pattern that indicates environmental etiology. They are the holistic caregivers of the patients. They are responsible for the psychosocial, developmental, cultural, and spiritual needs of an individual.
- Role Of Nurses As Patient’s Advocates
Most of the time in a healthcare system, nurses are the first and the checkpoints for patients throughout their treatment. Nurses are there for the patients, whether it is their routine checkup or a surgical procedure. They advocate the best interest of patient care, including making suggestions in the treatment plan or collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
Nurses are the critical players in situations where patients are unable to comprehend the happenings. So, it is the role of nurses to support them and ensure the best treatment. They also play the role of communicating the viewpoints across the parties.
- Patients’ Education And Emotional Support
Nurses are a significant source of emotional support for the patients. A hospital may be a scary place for the patient, specially if they are in a critical condition. Doctors are usually short on time; hence they can’t sit and be with the patients during their tough times. Here comes the role of nurses who hold the patient’s hand through difficult times and provide them the emotional support they need. They mentally calm the patients down who are resistant to care.
In addition, nurses are also responsible for educating the patients regarding their illness, treatment modalities, medications, severity, etc. This is essential while discharging the patients so that they are well educated to take care of themselves. For this purpose, nurses take some time and explain to the patient and their family members how to manage and what to expect when they leave the hospital premises.
- Record And Monitor The Patient’s Health
Whenever you visit the hospital, the first thing a nurse does is assess your vitals; that is, they will measure your blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and breathing rate. These are the indicators of the well-being of a patient. For instance, if an individual has high blood pressure or is running a fever, it indicates instant medical help.
The physicians and other care team members check the patient from time to time, but the nurse keeps detailed check-and-balance. They assess the patient day in and day out and summarize the assessment to make it easier for the doctor. Nurses spend a significant part of their day maintaining patient’s records and communicating the information to the care team members.
- Building Trust With The Patients
A nurse tends to spend a lot of time with the patients, which results in an emotional attachment. While carrying out the checkup, a nurse might ask you a lot of questions. That small talk has multiple benefits. First, it puts you at ease and breaks the awkward silence. Secondly, they carefully uncover the vital information that usually people are reluctant to share but are of significant importance.
The emotional connection is also beneficial in developing trust. Gaining a patient’s faith is significant to their treatment. It is more applicable to kids who are challenging to treat, but a skilled nurse is trained to deal with their tantrums and help calm them down.
- Staying Up-To-Date In Nursing And Healthcare System
As a doctor or a nurse, a persistent issue plaguing the healthcare system is the low healthcare literacy rate. Being up-to-date in healthcare is highly important as it enhances one’s ability to make a critical decision on time. Today, nurses have an increasing responsibility of learning new technology. Some healthcare systems demand their nurses to learn a specific skill and embrace the latest technology as it arrives. That is why nurses are continuously adapting to newer technologies to fulfill the latest requirements.
Nurses are the unsung and unappreciated heroes of our society. They are the trusted and respected community members; their firsthand knowledge regarding environmental hazards at home or in the community is beyond comparison. So, if you are a nurse, you have a massive responsibility to provide proper patient care. You will face new challenges every day. But as a nurse, you need to think carefully and be calm in stressful situations to provide emotional support to the patients and the care they need.
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