The Registered Nurse (RN) Job Description

Table of Contents

Introduction
An RN’s duties
Licensure and Education
Additional education and training
Issues of RNs’ working environment
Trends and changes in the nursing industry
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

A Registered Nurse (RN) is a highly significant job that generally suits persons who appreciate assisting others. They are practically responsible for people’s lives, which makes nursing a highly specialized field that is intertwined with the complex medical industry. As a result, an RN must be prepared for multiple patient and organizational issues that might arise. In short, RNs treat patients and prevent disease, educate clients and the general public about various medical disorders and health concerns, and give physical and mental care to patients’ family members. In this essay, the details of an RN’s job are discussed and complemented by the information from an interview with Yolanda Adagbada, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and experienced RN.

An RN’s duties

Nurses are responsible for a wide range of duties aimed at promoting health, preventing illness, and assisting the ill. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an RN is required to perform responsibilities that guarantee the safety and health of patients. Moreover, RNs are in charge of providing and organizing patient care. They ensure that patients are educated about their health conditions and drugs. Hence, an RN’s responsibility is to teach patients and their relatives how to manage their wellness. When examining a patient, they look at vital signs, concerns, and improvements in health. Nurses work in a variety of specific settings, ranging from surgical nurses to desk nurses. For example, Yolanda Adagbada is a “lead registered nurse in the endoscopy lab” (Interview par. 6).

Her multiple duties include “making the weekly schedule for the nurses and technicians, assigning lunch breaks,… admitting and discharging patients…, IV insertion, weekly leadership meetings, and maintaining the daily flow of the Endoscopy Lab” (Interview par. 6). Therefore, RNs offer and organize patient care, teach patients and the general public about numerous health concerns, and counsel clients and their families.

Licensure and Education

RNs must first complete a degree program before being granted state licensure. A license is not recommended but is required by the government. For example, according to The Illinois General Assembly’s Professions, Occupations, and Business Operations Nurse Practice Act, “only a registered nurse licensed under this Act is entitled to use the titles ‘registered nurse’” (par. 30). A bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a certificate from an accredited nursing program are the most common educational options for RNs that allow further licensure (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and related disciplines are common subjects in nursing education programs. Bachelor’s degree programs typically involve instruction in communication, management, and critical thinking in addition to science subjects. As such, Yolanda Adagbada is an RN, which means the state licenses her to perform her job. Moreover, she is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN), a nurse who offers direct care to critically sick adult patients from anywhere (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses). Hence, Yolanda Adagbada has pursued all of the possible educational opportunities specified for an RN.

Additional education and training

Nursing is a life-long learning experience since nursing students do not receive comprehensive training in the associated subject during nursing school. Moreover, due to technological growth, the healthcare profession is constantly changing. As a result, nursing care courses are necessary for providing essential opportunities to improve practice skills and awareness (The American Association of Colleges of Nursing). In some settings, it is critical to participate in additional training in order to achieve positive outcomes for patients. Thus, continuing education for nurses allows them to obtain new knowledge and grasp increasingly updated approaches for providing safe care to patients. The health care system and practice environments necessitate equally significant changes in nurse education before and after acquiring their licenses (The American Association of Colleges of Nursing).

Yolanda Adagbada reports that special education training is required for her job. Namely, they undergo “computer-based learning modules… [which include] simulation labs for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS) modules, hospital compliance modules, and state-mandated modules for sex trafficking” (Interview par. 5). These learning modules must be completed within a specific period, else the nurse may be suspended or dismissed.

Issues of RNs’ working environment

Unfortunately, an RN job might imply that issues at the workplace are present. For example, Yolanda Adagbada describes the difficulties when communicating with patients about severe conditions. She recounts: “It is saddening when a patient gets diagnosed with cancer and watches as they process the emotions of disbelief and shock” (Interview par. 3). Moreover, she reports that organizational problems and employee flow are disappointing for the staff. As such, she informs that “staffing shortages and retention are a problem; nurses come and learn some, then leave for the next nursing job” (Interview par. 3).

The other concern relates to the fact that moving, bending, straining, and standing are everyday activities for RNs (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). They are predisposed to back problems since they often lift and transfer patients. Moreover, RNs may come into touch with persons with infectious illnesses and are regularly exposed to potentially toxic and hazardous medications and other chemicals (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Finally, nurses typically work shifts to offer 24-hour coverage and may be required to operate overtime. Therefore, RNs are constantly pressured by psychological stress, employee shortage, and prolonged schedule.

Trends and changes in the nursing industry

There are several trends and expected changes in the job of RNs. As such, The American Association of Colleges of Nursing describes some of the emerging innovations and issues in the industry. For example, higher education has faced decreasing federal and state financing, rising tuition, aging infrastructure, varying funding sources, and divergences in available resources. Next, academic institutions are developing and granting micro-credentials or badges, which is a growing trend. Moreover, to address concerns of current training systems, competency-based education has evolved in higher education and the health professions.

The other recent change concerns centennials, a generation that has never known a life without social media or instant access to web searches and data. They often favor a checklist methodology and reject cultural standards that regard seat time as a criterion for higher education. Entrepreneurship and creativity are valued by Generation Z, as are self-reliance, social and racial fairness, and project-based learning centered on real-world challenges. Hence, students throughout the educational spectrum are pushing for changes in how they are taught in response to changes in how they learn.

Conclusion

To conclude, a job of an RN is demanding since it requires specific educational background, licensure, and additional education. Moreover, it supposes a variety of issues, such as nurses shortages, stress, and long hours, which negatively influence the workplace. However, RNs’ duties are essential for providing safe and proficient care for ill people, as well as psychological support for their families and providing public well-being.