Description:
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes advance practice nurses such as: nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Advanced practice nursing is practiced by RNs who have specialized formal, post-basic education and who function in highly autonomous and specialized roles.
Tasks
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions.
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
- Consult and coordinate with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans.
- Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Direct and supervise less skilled nursing or health care personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Prepare patients for, and assist with, examinations and treatments.
- Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Therapy and Counseling
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Biology
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
- Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Public Safety and Security
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Skills
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning
- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Deductive Reasoning
- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Written Comprehension
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Speech Clarity
- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Written Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Information Ordering
- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Near Vision
- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Work Context
- Contact With Others
- How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
- Telephone
- How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
- Work With Work Group or Team
- How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Face-to-Face Discussions
- How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Physical Proximity
- To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
- Deal With External Customers
- How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
- Frequency of Decision Making
- How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Interests
- Social
- Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Investigative
- Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Conventional
- Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Realistic
- Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Enterprising
- Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Artistic
- Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Work Style
- Concern for Others
- Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Stress Tolerance
- Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Self Control
- Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Cooperation
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Initiative
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Independence
- Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Work Value
- Relationships
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Support
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Achievement
- Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Independence
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Working Conditions
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
- Recognition
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Related Occupations
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
- Chiropractors
- Surgeons
- Podiatrists
- Psychiatric Aides
- Medical Assistants
Common Lay Titles
- Ambulatory Care Coordinator
- Anesthesiologist Nurse
- Associate Director of Nursing (ADON)
- Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse)
- Central Supply Nurse
- Certified Childbirth Educator (CCE)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Charge Nurse
- Circulating Nurse
- Clinical Nurse
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Clinical Supervisor
- Community Health Nurse
- Community Health Nurse Supervisor
- Consultant Nurse
- Consulting Nurse
- Coronary Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse)
- County Nurse
- Critical Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse)
- Delivery Room Supervisor
- Director of Nursing (DON)
- Discharge Planner
- Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse)
- Emergency Room Nurse
- Emergency Room Registered Nurse (ER RN)
- Endoscopy RN (Endoscopy Registered Nurse)
- Evening or Night Nurse Supervisor
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Field Nurse
- Flight Nurse
- Floor Supervisor
- Forensic Nurse
- General Duty Nurse
- Geriatric Care Manager
- Geriatric Nurse
- Head Nurse
- Health Care Coordinator
- Health Unit Supervisor
- Hospice Nurse
- Industrial Nurse
- Industrial Registered Nurse
- Industrial Staff Nurse
- Infection Control Nurse
- Intensive Care Unit Nurse
- Labor and Delivery Nurse
- Lactation Consultant
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LNP)
- Life Care Planner
- Maternity Floor Supervisor
- Maternity Nurse
- Medical/Surgery Registered Nurse (Med/Surg RN)
- Mid Wife
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse (NICU Nurse)
- Neonatal Nurse
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Case Manager
- Nurse Clinician
- Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Coordinator
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Manager
- Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Receptionist
- Nurse Technician
- Nurses Supervisor
- OB/GYN Nurse (Obstetrics/Gynecology Nurse)
- Obstetrical Nurse
- Obstetrics Nurse (OB Nurse)
- Obstetrics Scrub Nurse (OB Scrub Nurse)
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Occupational Health Nurse Supervisor
- Occupational Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
- Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse)
- Operating Room Nurse
- Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN)
- Operating Room Supervisor
- Patient Care Coordinator
- Pediatric Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Registered Nurse
- Pediatrics RN (Pediatrics Registered Nurse)
- Perianesthesia Nurse
- Perinatal Nurse
- Physical Therapy Nurse
- Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse (PACU Nurse)
- Post Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurse (PACU Nurse)
- Post Anesthesia Room Nurse
- Prenatal Nurse
- Private Duty Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Registered Nurse
- Public Health Nurse
- Public Health Staff Nurse
- Receptionist Nurse
- Recovery Room Nurse
- Registered Health Nurse
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Registered Nurse Midwife
- Registered Nurse Supervisor
- Registered Nurse, Certified (RNC)
- Registered Private Duty Nurse
- Registered Public Health Nurse
- Relief Charge Nurse
- RN BSN (Registered Nurse Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
- RN Case Manager (Registered Nurse Case Manager)
- School Nurse
- Scrub Nurse
- Special Duty Nurse
- Staff Nurse
- Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse)
- Student Nurse
- Subacute Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
- Supervisor Nurse
- Surgical First Assistant
- Surgical Nurse
- Surgical Supervisor
- Telephone Triage Nurse
- Transverse Abdominal Muscle Nurse (TRAM Nurse)
- Trauma Nurse
- Traveling Nurse
- Triage Nurse
- Visiting Nurse
- Ward Nurse
- Ward Supervisor
- X Ray Nurse