Staff nurses are essential healthcare professionals responsible for delivering direct patient care and ensuring patients receive compassionate, quality treatment[5]. Their core duties include:
- Conducting physical examinations to assess patients’ overall health, including checking vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate[1].
- Performing diagnostic tests and collecting specimens (blood, urine, tissue) for analysis, and sharing results with the medical team[1].
- Administering medications and treatments as ordered by physicians, monitoring patient responses, and managing intravenous lines[2].
- Recording medical history and symptoms by maintaining accurate, detailed patient records and updating them as needed[1].
- Monitoring patient conditions regularly, recognizing changes or signs of improvement or deterioration, and promptly reporting these to physicians[4].
- Educating patients and families about medical conditions, treatment plans, medications, and discharge instructions to promote better health and understanding[3].
- Maintaining clean and safe patient environments by ensuring proper infection control, equipment usage, and room organization[3].
- Collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, such as doctors, therapists, and support staff, to coordinate comprehensive care[2].
- Supervising and supporting nursing assistants, orienting new team members, and sometimes helping with the training of healthcare students[7].
- Adhering to clinical protocols and standards to ensure ethical, high-quality care and follow hospital policies and procedures[3].
Staff nurses also advocate for patients, participate in care planning, assist in procedures and surgeries, and contribute to the continuous improvement of patient care quality[5]. While their specific tasks may vary based on their specialty area and work setting, hands-on patient care remains their primary responsibility[4].
References
- [1] What Does a Nurse Do? 10 Duties of a Nurse | Indeed.com
- [2] Nurse – Explore Healthcare Careers – Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- [3] Staff Nurse Job Description – Velents.ai
- [4] Why Are Nurses Important in Healthcare? – Mercer ABSN
- [5] What Is a Staff Nurse? | University of Phoenix
- [7] Staff Nurse II – Medical/Surgical Unit – Natividad Human Resources
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