The following subsections will dive deeper into the professional nursing roles of these licensed healthcare professionals. These different nursing roles will be covered in-depth with specific examples to aid in understanding their applicability to the healthcare industry.
The different nursing roles will include:
- Caregiver
- Decision maker
- Communicator
- Manager of Care
- Patient Advocate
- Educator
The registered nurse is a diverse healthcare professional who is trained to meet the evolving needs of their clients.
Caregiver
The caregiver is the classic representation of a registered nurse. This role encompasses the direct-patient care that bedside nurses provide. Nurses care for the patient's physical, developmental, and psychosocial needs through the development and application of a personal care plan.
The nurse assesses the patient using thorough observation to create a nursing diagnosis. The nursing diagnosis is the problem statement that the nurse and patient will overcome. They will form measurable, time-specific goals and a plan to meet them.
For example, a nurse will provide oxygen therapy and increase hydration on a COPD patient who seeks to increase their quality of life. Alternatively, a nurse may help administer medications to the same patient who may be uncomfortable with their particular symptoms. When the patient becomes discouraged, the nurse will provide reassurance as necessary. The role of a caregiver is to treat the entire patient from a medical and holistic standpoint. Care that encompasses all of a patient's needs, emphasizing that the sum is greater than the parts, is holistic care. Providing direct patient care is the classic embodiment of a registered nurse.
Decision Maker
Nurses use critical judgment to serve in their role as decision-makers. Nurses can decide when to apply "as needed" medications and treatments. They monitor the patient for any emerging trends and use this information to make decisions that are the most beneficial to the patient.
A nurse may decide to implement a standing order at a hospital after noticing that a patient was trending in a particular direction. If a patient has difficulty breathing, the nurse may be able to apply a nasal cannula based on the doctor's orders or the standing orders of a hospital. If a nurse monitors COVID-19 trends and sees a spike in a local community, they may decide to set up a vaccination program in that area.
Communicator
Adequate communication serves as the foundation for every role a nurse embodies. Nurses must be exemplary communicators to patients, families, and other healthcare providers. Often, nurses are tasked with providing client education to aid a patient in understanding their new diagnosis or treatment regiment. Nurses need to be well versed in communicating complex medical jargon to a patient with no medical background.
Nurses also have to be thorough communicators to each other and other team members. At the end of every shift, a nurse will do a "hand-off" report. This is a summation of the patient's progress throughout the shift and their overall wellbeing. This report ensures that an adequate continuation of care is achieved throughout multiple shifts. Without this, there could be an error in care.
Manager of Care
Registered nurses are also considered a patient's manager of care. From entry to discharge, they are responsible for fostering a collaborative effort between a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers. Nurses will share information with registered dieticians, doctors, home care services, meal services, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that adequate care is provided for the patient. It is important to note that this role does not end with discharge. Case managers check on patients post-hospitalization to guarantee their needs are met after their visit has ended.
A registered nurse may recommend a patient with a low income for food assistance, such as meals on wheels. They may connect them with a home nurse to aid them in their transition to the home. Registered nurses will also review the medications with a patient at discharge and intake to ensure they are necessary. This prevents polypharmacy and unwarranted side effects.
Patient Advocate
Patient advocacy is a significant role of the registered nurse. Patient advocacy is the concept that the nurse should advocate, or speak up, on the patient's rights. The nurse should always have the interests of the patient in mind. They should help maintain the patient's dignity and autonomy throughout treatment. This is particularly important when a patient is unwell and may not comprehend their care. The registered nurse will support and advocate for the patient's best interests.
A nurse may advocate for a patient to switch medications when experiencing side effects. If another drug from a different class is available and comparable, the nurse will recommend switching to the prescribing doctor. Patient autonomy is paramount to the healthcare system, and nurses support that by being patient advocates.
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Teacher
Client education is a salient component of nursing. By educating the client, the nurse can reduce medical complications and maximize overall wellbeing. Nurses provide clients with education regarding their medications and their treatment options. A well-informed patient will also be better equipped to make decisions about their care. Nurses help promote patient autonomy by providing unbiased education on a patient's choices.
By educating the client on the risk factors of a disease, the nurse can reduce the risk of that disease from manifesting in the client. When a nurse promotes the benefit of vaccination, it can help lower the incidence of disease in the overall population.
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