The day-to-day duties of a nurse — how the profession has evolved

The medical profession has always been considered one of the noblest, and nurses are often some of the most devoted to helping others. A nurse's day is filled with essential tasks, many of which are necessary to keep patients safe and comfortable.

Nurses have a lot on their plates daily, from monitoring vital signs to administering medications and answering questions. Their roles have changed over time as they become more knowledgeable about the benefits of specific treatments and procedures.

The changing role of nurses

With medical and technological advancements, nurses have become more specialized and involved in patient care. Nurses now work in various fields, including psychiatric nursing, pediatrics and emergency care.

They are also responsible for assessing patients to determine their eligibility for surgery or other treatments. Nurses must now possess licenses issued by their state to practice within that area of expertise.

Many options are available to help someone obtain licensure as a nurse. One option is an accelerated BSN program with hands-on training through clinical rotations.

This online nursing program is inclusive and diverse, hybrid in nature, with a clinical placement department to help you get started on your career as soon as possible. You can complete the coursework anywhere, which will fit into your work and family life.

Tasks nurses do every single day

With nursing becoming increasingly specialized, it is essential to know the day-to-day duties of nurses to understand how their roles have changed over time. Nurses' duties vary widely depending on their specialty and where they work.

While doctors are primarily responsible for diagnosing conditions and providing treatment, nurses have plenty of tasks they handle regularly. Here are some jobs that nurses do every day:

Providing patient care

Nurses are a crucial part of the healthcare team — their primary responsibility is patient care. They achieve this by working closely with other medical staff to ensure patients receive the appropriate care for their condition.

Nurses often teach new healthcare team members about standard procedures and performing administrative tasks when not providing direct patient care. These tasks include filling out paperwork or creating budgets for how the hospital will allocate money.

Recording patient medical histories

In order to provide the best care possible, nurses receive training on keeping detailed medical histories of their patients. This record includes information like their allergies, their family medical history, and any other relevant data that may affect the nurse's ability to serve them.

This information is essential because it helps nurses know what treatments to give and what remedies to avoid.

Operating medical equipment

Nurses often operate medical equipment and ensure it works properly, whether a CT scanner or an MRI machine. Some may take on the role of becoming certified registered nurse anesthetists to manage anesthesia care for patients undergoing surgical procedures.

Administering medication

A nurse's day-to-day tasks will vary depending on the patient's needs and care plan. One of the most critical duties is administering medication.

Sometimes, a nurse will administer medications to multiple patients at once, but in other cases, they might only need to give medicines to one or two patients during their shift.

When administering medication, nurses must be sure that they follow the dosage and timing instructions as set out by their doctors and the pharmacy.

Performing diagnostic tests

Nurses often collect samples from patients, as well as perform diagnostic tests. For example, they may check blood pressure, temperature or blood sugar levels.

They may also use a stethoscope to listen to the patient's lungs and heart rate. Depending on the hospital's needs, a nurse might take X-rays or administer an IV drip. This role ensures that the nurses are proficient in these skills before moving on to higher-level tasks.

Educating patients and families

Nurses engage in many daily tasks to help provide varied patient care. They educate patients and their families about diagnoses, treatments, medications and more. For example, they might explain to them a medication's side effects or teach them how to administer injections.

Nurses may also show new parents how to change an infant's diaper or administer CPR. This education will ensure the family has the knowledge and skills needed for continued treatment at home after discharge.

Final thoughts

Nurses are an essential part of the healthcare system and their roles have changed significantly over the past few decades. They can now be found in hospitals, schools, doctors' offices, clinics and other places.

As healthcare advances, nurses will take on additional responsibilities such as administering medical procedures like vaccines, delivering injections and interpreting medical tests. If you want a career where your skills make a difference, consider becoming a nurse.