They take basic history from patients, they get open lines into veins, they take stats, draw blood for test, they assign medication (not prescribing, though).
They participate in all major cases and all procedures, mostly by monitoring, helping doctors and assisting in every way possible.
They give the docs they essential info from the patients, advise them medically, and they are the first line of treatment in the ALS inside hospitals. They do almost everything.
They do a variety of hands on patient assessments.
They do arterial and venous punctures for labs and to insert IV catheters for patients of all ages.
They give a long list of medications.
They initiate many emergency procedures and can give medications by protocols just like a Paramedic but with many more devices and medications in their tool box so to speak.
They not only carry out the orders of a doctor but they also have their own protocols to initiate.
They can give blood products.
They hang IV medications.
They assist with intubation and in someplaces they can intubate if they are also on a Critical Care or Flight team.
They can insert central lines if they are on those teams also.
They still assist for intubations and all line insertions.
They do setup and interpretation for invasive monitoring for CVP, PA and Arterial values.
They assess for ICP and can set up for invasive monitoring.
They clean and dress wounds.
They can set up BiPAP/CPAP and ventilators.
They insert naso and oral gastric tubes, foley catheters and whatever other invasive tubing or device is needed such as temp probes.
They assist with infant deliveries and do the post delivery care.
They irrigate eyes.
They assist with lumbar punctures.
They assist with chest tube inserts (perform if they are part of a flight or CCT team stationed in the ER) and continue monitoring.
They do lots of teaching which is a large percentage of their job. They must be well versed in diabetes/insulin, asthma/inhalers, wound care and physicial therapy.
They perform such tasks as 12 lead ECGs, glucose monitoring and many other bedside diagnostics like PEFR.
The list can go on and on.
A Bachelors degree in Nursing is the minimun you should be considering for any area of nursing.
Comments
ER nurses do a lot.
They take basic history from patients, they get open lines into veins, they take stats, draw blood for test, they assign medication (not prescribing, though).
They participate in all major cases and all procedures, mostly by monitoring, helping doctors and assisting in every way possible.
They give the docs they essential info from the patients, advise them medically, and they are the first line of treatment in the ALS inside hospitals. They do almost everything.
RNs are all about the medical stuff.
They do a variety of hands on patient assessments.
They do arterial and venous punctures for labs and to insert IV catheters for patients of all ages.
They give a long list of medications.
They initiate many emergency procedures and can give medications by protocols just like a Paramedic but with many more devices and medications in their tool box so to speak.
They not only carry out the orders of a doctor but they also have their own protocols to initiate.
They can give blood products.
They hang IV medications.
They assist with intubation and in someplaces they can intubate if they are also on a Critical Care or Flight team.
They can insert central lines if they are on those teams also.
They still assist for intubations and all line insertions.
They do setup and interpretation for invasive monitoring for CVP, PA and Arterial values.
They assess for ICP and can set up for invasive monitoring.
They clean and dress wounds.
They can set up BiPAP/CPAP and ventilators.
They insert naso and oral gastric tubes, foley catheters and whatever other invasive tubing or device is needed such as temp probes.
They assist with infant deliveries and do the post delivery care.
They irrigate eyes.
They assist with lumbar punctures.
They assist with chest tube inserts (perform if they are part of a flight or CCT team stationed in the ER) and continue monitoring.
They do lots of teaching which is a large percentage of their job. They must be well versed in diabetes/insulin, asthma/inhalers, wound care and physicial therapy.
They perform such tasks as 12 lead ECGs, glucose monitoring and many other bedside diagnostics like PEFR.
The list can go on and on.
A Bachelors degree in Nursing is the minimun you should be considering for any area of nursing.
They do a damn fine job.