What’s Involved: Job Descriptions and Job Settings
Get an overview of the responsibilities and Job Settings for LPNs, RNs, Traveling Nurses, Advance Practice Nurses, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Certified Nurse Midwives.
LPN:
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), care for the sick, injured, convalescent, and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses.
Most LPNs provide basic bedside care, taking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, apply dressings, treat bedsores, and give alcohol rubs and massages. LPNs monitor their patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments. They collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food and fluid intake and output. To help keep patients comfortable, LPNs assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene. In states where the law allows, they may administer prescribed medicines or start intravenous fluids. Some LPNs help deliver, care for, and feed infants. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.
In addition to providing routine beside care, LPNs in nursing care facilities help evaluate residents’ needs, develop care plans, and supervise the care provided by nursing aides. In doctors’ offices and clinics, they also may make appointments, keep records, and perform other clerical duties. LPNs who work in private homes may prepare meals and teach family members simple nursing tasks.
RN:
Registered nurses (RNs) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress in patients; assist physicians during surgeries, treatments, and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care, and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health. While state laws govern the tasks that RNs may perform, it is usually the work setting that determines their daily job duties.
Traveling Nurse:
A traveling nurse works on temporary assignment in a wide variety of clinical settings. The nurse works for a traveling nurse company which is contracted by the medical facility. The assignments can be as short as a few weeks, and many can last as long as the nurse wishes. The normal assignment period is 13 weeks. A traveling nurse can work almost anywhere in the country and housing is often provided by the traveling nurse agency. Travel nursing gives you the chance to expand your skill set and to further your career by learning new practices and proving yourself in a variety of clinical settings, as well as living in a variety of locales around the country.
Advance Practice Nurse:
Nurse practitioners provide basic, primary healthcare. They diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries. Nurse practitioners also can prescribe medications—but certification and licensing requirements vary by state.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists:
Nurse anesthesia is an advanced clinical nursing specialty. As anesthesia specialists, CRNAs administer approximately 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients in the United States each year. A CRNA takes care of a patient’s anesthesia needs before, during and after surgery or the delivery of a baby by: performing a physical assessment; participating in preoperative teaching; preparing for anesthetic management; administering anesthesia to keep the patient pain free; maintaining anesthesia intraoperatively; overseeing recovery from anesthesia; and following the patient’s postoperative course from recovery room to patient care unit. CRNAs provide services in conjunction with other healthcare professionals such as surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, and anesthesiologists.
Certified Nurse Midwives:
Today's CNM and CM is a skilled healthcare professional who provides primary healthcare to women. This includes evaluation, assessment, treatment, and referral to a specialist, if required. CNMs and CMs emphasize health promotion, education, and disease prevention. Care-giving by CNMs and CMs includes preconception counseling, care during pregnancy and childbirth, normal gynecological services, and care of the peri- and post-menopausal woman. With health education as a primary focus, CNMs and CMs help prevent problems and assist women in developing and maintaining good health habits. Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) must graduate from an accredited education program and pass a rigorous certification exam, and are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Hospital nurses form the largest group of nurses. Most are staff nurses, who provide bedside nursing care and carry out medical regimens. They also may supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides. Hospital nurses usually are assigned to one department, such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, the emergency room, intensive care, or the treatment of cancer patients. Some may rotate among departments.
Office nurses care for outpatients in physicians’ offices, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and emergency medical centers. They prepare patients for, and assist with examinations; administer injections and medications; dress wounds and incisions; assist with minor surgery; and maintain records. Some also perform routine laboratory and office work.
Nursing care facility nurses manage care for residents with conditions ranging from a fracture to Alzheimer’s disease. Although they often spend much of their time on administrative and supervisory tasks, RNs also assess residents’ health, develop treatment plans, supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing aides, and perform invasive procedures, such as starting intravenous fluids. They also work in specialty-care departments, such as long-term rehabilitation units for patients with strokes and head injuries.
Home health nurses provide nursing services to patients at home. RNs assess patients’ home environments and instruct patients and their families. Home health nurses care for a broad range of patients, such as those recovering from illnesses and accidents, cancer, and childbirth. They must be able to work independently and may supervise home health aides.
Public health nurses work in government and private agencies, including clinics, schools, retirement communities, and other community settings. They focus on populations, working with individuals, groups, and families to improve the overall health of communities. They also work with communities to help plan and implement programs. Public health nurses instruct individuals, families, and other groups regarding health issues such as preventive care, nutrition, and childcare. They arrange for immunizations, blood pressure testing, and other health screening. These nurses also work with community leaders, teachers, parents, and physicians in community health education.
Occupational health nurses, also called industrial nurses, provide nursing care at worksites to employees, customers, and others with injuries and illnesses. They give emergency care, prepare accident reports, and arrange for further care if necessary. They also offer health counseling, conduct health examinations and inoculations, and assess work environments to identify potential or actual health problems.
Head nurses or nurse supervisors direct nursing activities, primarily in hospitals. They plan work schedules and assign duties to nurses and aides, provide or arrange for training, and visit patients to observe nurses and to ensure that the patients receive proper care. They also may ensure that records are maintained and equipment and supplies are ordered.