It may appear as if registered nurses spend all of their time working in the emergency room and have little or no impact on the lives of people who don't need medical attention or aren't currently ill. However, this is not always the case. Nurses work in a number of different settings around the U.S. including:
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Clinics
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Schools
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Private homes
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Assisted living facilities.
Nurses can also choose to specialize in certain areas including:
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Cardiac care
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Midwifery
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Geriatrics
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Family practice
Nurses have an impact on all of our lives in one way or another. They may not be directly linked to looking after you, but it's likely one of your friends or family members will be receiving treatment or support from a nurse. A nurse who looks after a seriously ill member of your family will also have an impact on you and your health and wellbeing. Nurses play a huge role in supporting us all and keeping us all healthy. Keep reading below to find out why nurses are so important and what role they play in the healthcare industry:
Why Have We Seen An Increase in the Number of People Training to Become a Nurse?
Recently we have seen an increase in the number of people considering a career in nursing. This is due to:
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The national spotlight being placed on the lack of registered nurses in the U.S.
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The increase in access to health care
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An increased baby Boomer population
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The salaries of nurses continuing to rise
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The number of opportunities available to qualified nurses is increasing
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Adults changing careers later in life
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It's a rewarding career choice
If you're thinking of becoming a nurse then now is a brilliant time to consider it. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics expects that by 2024, nursing employment opportunities will increase by 16%.
Why Are Nurses So Important in Hospitals?
In the hospital environment, doctors play a huge role in patient outcomes, but nurses do too. Studies have shown that:
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Hospitals that lack nurses are likely to have higher mortality rates
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Mortality rates in hospitals that have an adequate number of nurses are around 14% lower than the average
Other studies have shown similar results when they've compared not only the number of nurses but also how well trained and knowledgeable those nurses were. These studies suggested that:
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Hospitals who employed highly qualified nurses were likely to have better patient outcomes.
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Hospitals need well-qualified nurses at every stage of an admission
Nurses are usually the main agents of patient care, so it's no surprise that there's a direct link between patient outcomes and nursing staff.
There are programs and courses available for nurses who are pushing for better patient outcomes. Nurses can achieve this by earning a degree or a specialty certification. Baylor University provides a DNP online, which is the perfect choice of program for registered nurses who already hold a BSN or MSN. Graduates from this course will have all the knowledge they need to become nursing leaders and they will be able to actively improve patient outcomes.
The Role of a Nurse
Nurses are lifesavers. There are currently over three million registered nurses working in the U.S. In fact, nurses now outnumber doctors by 3:1 in the healthcare industry. While most doctors tend to specialize in a single area, nurses are able to coordinate a patient's care and they are responsible for all aspects of a patient's health. A patient who is suffering from chest pains will probably need more than one medical doctor's input. Each of these doctors:
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Diagnose
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Treat
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Prescribe medication
Registered nurses:
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Compile all of the information together
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Check that the prescribed medications don't negatively interact with one another
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Make sure that the patient understands what is happening
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They also review diagnostic test results and pass on the information to the relevant doctor
The role of a registered nurse can vary a great deal depending on the setting they work in. However, most registered nurses can:
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Administer medication
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Consult with other professionals
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Educate people and their families
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Organize and manage personal medical records
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Monitor patients
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Help support patients
Registered nurses are also expected to stay up to date with the latest technology in order to make sure they are offering their patients the best care possible and in order to support other health care providers.
Where Do Nurses Work?
Many people are aware that nurses work in hospital settings, but in actual fact, they can work in a number of care settings. Here are some of the different settings where Registered Nurses are commonly employed:
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Critical care or intensive care - nurses in critical care or intensive care are usually taking care of people who are suffering from life-threatening conditions and need care around the clock. Nurses who work in intensive care will insert lifesaving IVs, educate, and care for patients and their families, and lots more.
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Hospitals - working in a hospital is what most people think of when they picture nurses. Approximately 61% of nurses currently work in a hospital setting. Nurses spend a lot of time taking care of patients while they're in a hospital. In fact, nurses are usually the first people to spot when a patient has deteriorated. This is usually because of the amount of time they spend on the ward.
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Clinics - most of the nurses who work in clinics will turn up to work before doctors in order to organize the clinic, turn on the computers, and get the exam tables and charts ready for the doctors to interpret. Once a patient has completed their consultation with a doctor, the clinic nurse will then organize any follow-up tests that are required.
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Ambulatory care - nurses who work in ambulatory care usually take care of patients outside of a hospital setting. This can include outpatient facilities, rehabilitation centers, same-day surgery centers, and home hospices.
While we need to make sure we recognize the contributions that all healthcare professionals make, studies have shown that nurses are by far one of the most important factors when it comes to achieving better patient outcomes. Nurses play a huge role in keeping us, our families, and our friends healthy.