Where would we be without nurses? Nurses are a deeply essential part of human society. They take care of us whether that environment is at a pharmacy, at school, in the hospital, or at home. There are over 4 million registered nurses in the United States today. This month is Nurse Appreciation Month, which means we will take the month of May to appreciate and learn more about such an integral part of society and public health: nurses.
What All Nurses Do in General
Nurses are a part of the entire patient experience or wherever there is need for care. Nurses identify and protect the needs of the individual, whether that means they are educating the public about critical health issues or administering medicine as a part of in-home care or personalized elder care. Nurses are compassionate and dedicated to their areas of specialization, which could change depending on the needs of society. Nurses are around for all the small and big moments and in the end are best placed to form a comprehensive view of a patient’s health.
What Exactly Do Nurses Do
Nursing is a varied field as knowledge and experience inform each nurses area of expertise. While nurses are skilled and have an intense drive for caring for others, they can have different areas of specialization, different experiences, and different degrees. While all nurses complete a rigorous program of extensive education and study they can have different styles and ultimately different roles. Nursing roles can generally be divided into three categories, each category comes with different and specific responsibilities.
Registered Nurses
Registered Nurses or RNs are the baseline of health care in the United States. RNs provide critical health care to the public wherever it is needed. Some responsibilities include performing physical exams and health histories, providing health promotion, counseling, and education, administering medications and other personalized interventions, and coordinating care, often in collaboration with other health care professionals.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) hold at least a Master’s degree, in addition to the initial nursing education and licensing required for all RNs. Some key responsibilities of an APRN are providing invaluable primary and preventative health care to the public. APRNs treat and diagnose illnesses, advise the public on health issues, manage chronic disease and engage in continuous education to remain at the very forefront of any technical, methodological, or other field developments. There are some APRNs who go on to practice specialist roles, such as certified registered nurse anesthetists who administer more than 65 percent of all anesthetics.
Licensed Practical Nurses
LPNs or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) support the core health care team and work under the supervision of an RN, APRN, or MD. They provide routine care to ensure the wellbeing of patients throughout the whole of the health care journey. Some responsibilities include checking vital signs, changing bandages and wound dressing and ensuring patients are comfortable, well-fed, and hydrated.
Always a Need for More Nurses
Despite the fact that one in every one hundred people is a registered nurse, nurses are increasingly in high demand. In recent years there has been a shortage, and the prediction is that this will continue. Whether directing complex nursing care systems or giving direct patient care, nurses are needed and ultimately appreciated for everything they do. Show some appreciation for the nurses around you today by sending a note or sharing how they’ve impacted your life. Here at Freedom Home Care we’ll be celebrating all of our certified caregivers and nurses who provide Alzheimer’s care, in home care, and more. They do so much for our families and communities, remember to appreciate caregivers this month!
