Nurses are individuals, both male and female, who are specially trained to look after sick and injured people.A nurse works along with a doctor assisting them in dealing with a patient and handling all the other tasks which do not require the supervision of a doctor. At the same time, it is also the duty of a registered nurse to assist the family members of the patient in grieving, although their primary task is to keep the patient fit and healthy.Just like potential doctors get trained in an institution, nursing students too are trained in a nursing school. Although the duration of training nursing students is relatively less than those of doctors, it still takes nurses around three to five years to get a nursing degree and then become licensed nurses. As of today, registered nurses are in high demand owing to the increasing medical and healthcare needs. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, we all learned about the importance of nurses, midwives and doctors; they were the ones who kept working and saved numerous lives. Modern nursing is often regarded as a combination of a compassionate heart and scientific thinking. Interestingly, of all the hospital staff that plays a role in treating a patient, it is the nursing professionals who are always in direct contact with the patient. In the current world, if you want to join the nursing profession, you can get yourself enrolled in a nursing school and begin your journey.Role Of Nurses In HealthcareGenerally, in a hospital, we know that the primary role of a nurse is to take care of a patient and attend to their needs but there are various particular roles which professional nurses perform when they work in hospitals. In certain remote areas where doctors aren’t available, it is the nurses who diagnose patients and also prescribe medications to them.Under general nursing practices, the first and foremost role of a nurse is to record the symptoms of the patient and talk to their family for a medical history.As a doctor cannot be around one patient all the time, nurse practitioners are often designated to monitor the health of a patient and read any changes.There is a notable discrepancy in the role assigned to registered nurses and to nurse practitioners as the latter is more trained than a registered nurse but not as skilled as a doctor.A registered nurse also collaborates with healthcare teams to plan for a method of patient care, and they brief the doctors about the patient’s condition so that they can get started at the soonest.In a nursing school, nurses and midwives are specially trained to operate all the medical equipment and foresee the treatment, medications given to a patient.In certain hospitals, experienced licensed practical nurses are assigned to perform diagnostic tests as and when the doctors ask.Nursing education sincerely nurtures potential nurses to have a compassionate heart as it is their role to provide any advice to patients and guide them regarding how to manage their illness.Not only do nurses assist physicians and administer the medicinal doses of a patient but also take care of their mental health and keep the patient motivated through their recovery.Nurses work closely with doctors in overseeing the treatment given to a patient as they are the ones who continuously monitor the patient, and thus, need to give in their inputs wherever necessary.Moreover, it is also the role of registered nurses to inform a patient about the treatment they are being given and what is best for them.A nursing program enables registered nurses to guide the family members of a discharged patient about the precautions to undertake and how to take care of the patient.Requirements To Be A Registered Nurse In The USAIn the modern nursing structure in order to become a registered nurse, it takes around two to four years in countries such as the USA and Canada. It can take over six years to become a nurse practitioner if you are not formally trained in nursing or lack college credits. Constant growth in the sector of health and human services, in general, and in nursing care, in particular, attracts a number of potential nursing students every year.A nurse must have undertaken either of the two nursing programs of ADN or BSN and then cleared the NCLEX-RN exam to go to the stage of seeking employment as a nurse, midwife.Before enrolling in a nursing school, you must have positively completed your math, liberal arts and science requisites. Some of the common requisites include the likes of basic biology, psychology, anatomy and physiology.On completion of the requisites, nursing students can now choose between a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).It is a fact that a nurse practitioner who has undertaken BSN, rather than ADN, not only has more knowledge but also has more scope of growth and along with it better pay as well.Interestingly, certain states of America such as New York require registered nurses only if they have a bachelor’s degree.While you can undertake either of the two nursing programs, you need to register and start preparations for the NCLEX-RN examination.Students can register for this examination and apply for their licensure around six weeks prior to graduation.The NCLEX-RN examination has many questions and a minimum of 75 questions needs to be solved within six hours, and the result of the test determines the potential employment options of the examinee.Once the results are announced, the nurses can now look for options to work in hospitals or nursing homes.As more nurses get added to the healthcare industry, recognition of an individual becomes difficult, one can become board certified to earn greater recognition in the healthcare sector and potentially more money as well.Did you know that nurses work not only in hospitals but also in non-hospital fields and roles such as as a nurse educator, forensic nurse, legal nurse consultant?Did you know, the New England Hospital for Women and Children, established in 1862 was the first nursing school in the USA?Currently, the New England Hospital for Women and Children which was opened in Boston in 1862 has been renamed Dimock Community Health Center.Florence Nightingale or ‘The Lady with the Lamp’, one of the most famous nurses ever who is recognized for her efforts during the Crimean War undertook her clinical training at a British camp rather than at a medical school.May 12, the birth date of Florence Nightingale marks International Nurses Day and the fourth week of that month is recognized as National Nurses Week in the United States.Surprisingly, the first nursing school ever in the world was built in 250 BC in India! It was a time when only males were allowed to attend school and undertake nursing practice.A registered nurse can work a few days a week in eight, 10, or 12 hours shifts.In what area of healthcare do nurses work?Broadly, the healthcare industry can be divided into four primary sectors namely ‘Medical insurance, medical services and managed care’, ‘Medical devices, equipment, and hospital supplies manufacturers’, ‘Pharmaceuticals & Related Segments’, and ‘Health care services and facilities’.The ‘Health care service and facilities’ sector is further divided into four categories. They include ‘hospitals’, ‘ambulatory healthcare services’, ‘medical practitioners and healthcare professionals’ and ’nursing and residential care facilities’.Nurses belong to the category of ’nursing and residential care facilities’, and as the name suggests, nursing care practices aren’t carried out only in hospitals but in residences as well.A nurse practitioner can work in various settings such as in a physician’s office, long-term care facilities, health clinics and even in camps where you get to see volunteer nurse as well.We see that most of the nurses work in hospitals because it is the primary care center but these ethical professionals also cater to the health needs of old people in private homes and for children in schools as well.Did you know that many licensed nurses specifically choose to become travel nurses? These travel nurses are relocated to different parts of the world all the time depending upon the need.Interestingly, according to a 2021 survey, nursing was found to be among the top 40 professions in the world currently in demand.Within this, nurse anesthetists had a rank of #39, the registered nurses were ranked #37 and the nurse practitioners were all the way up to the third rank.Did you know that of the entire world’s healthcare professionals, nurses make 59% of it with a total population of 28 million all across the world?Difference Between The Role Of Nurse And DoctorNurses and doctors have very distinct roles, apart from the fact that the study of becoming a doctor is much more detailed and vast, the roles performed by a nurse and a doctor in a hospital are poles apart. Let us take a closer look at the distinction between the roles of a nurse and a doctor.Doctors are regarded as the heads or the leaders of a team that is treating a patient, whereas the nursing staff is a link between the doctor and the patient.The nurses keep a constant eye on the health development of the patient and inform the doctor of this, the doctor is then responsible for taking the requisite step.It is the role of a nurse to make the patient feel comfortable, and they spend much more time with the patient than doctors.It is also the responsibility of a nurse to keep the patient in good morale and motivated, whereas, in all honesty, doctors may not have a lot of time to worry about these factors as they have several other patients to tend to.The role of a doctor or a physician is pretty precise. They treat the disease which is causing illness to the patient, whereas it is the responsibility of the nurse to treat the illness and help the patient recover at the soonest.Nurses can never start a treatment in the absence of a doctor, and they can provide the first aid at the most. Once the doctor has carried out the diagnostics and explained the way forward, the nurses can now execute the steps mentioned.Moreover, during surgeries, nurses are involved too but only to assist the surgeon or the doctor in charge.Interestingly, despite all these role differences, in the modern medical system, the roles of nurses and doctors often overlap but it has been smooth sailing so far.
Nurses are individuals, both male and female, who are specially trained to look after sick and injured people.
