NURSING ROLE

The Role of the Nurse

The Role of the Nurse

Introduction

Nurses play one of the most significant roles in the facilitation of healthcare services. A patient is the focus of the nurse's care. Nurses take care of the ill and wounded in hospitals and clinics, where they strive to preserve health and safety and help relieve the pain of those suffering. A lot of people still need nursing care even when they are moved home from hospital, so nurses often render home care to such patients on the very same lines as in the hospital (Feldman, 2008, pp.24).

Role of the Nurse

A nurse performs a wide range of roles in a healthcare environment. Nursing involves looking after the sick, performing the procedures suggested by the doctor, and collaborating closely with the doctors and the entire medical team for assessing the patient and treating his or her illness (Watson, 2008, pp.16). The main functions performed by a nurse are as follows.

Care for the Patient

Caring is the essence of nursing. Nurses provide care to the patients continuously round the clock. They assist patients in doing their routine things, which they cannot do for themselves because of their condition. They make sure that the patients can breathe properly and have adequate intake of nutrition and fluids. They ensure the comfort of the patients and that they get sufficient rest and sleep. They help the patients in getting rid of the wastes from the body, as well as, in avoiding the harmful outcomes of lack of mobility. Above all, the nurse renders emotional comfort and moral support to the patients and their families (Gunn, 2009, pp.110).

Helping the Doctor to Cure the Patient

Today, nurses have a significant role in diagnosing the patients and their issues. It is the nurses who perform most of the treatments needed by a patient. The doctor carries out only the most fundamental of these, such as surgery. The rest of the interventions are provided by the nursing staff, which ranges from setting up surgery procedures to giving medications to following the overall progress of the treatment. The frequent interaction between the nurse and the patient allows the nurse to identify any potential (Feldman, 2008, pp.26).

Coordinating the Patient Care

In the modern day hospital, the care of a patient is carried out by a team consisting of doctors, nurses and other medical executives, relevant to the problem at hand. The nurse coordinates and collaborates with all the members of the team and forms a fit between their works to ensure that the overall patient care plan is successfully executed. Through efficient coordination of work of others, the nurse ensures the quality of the patient care (Moyet, 2005, pp.87).

Safeguarding the Patient

One of the most important responsibilities of the nurse is to assure the safety and wellbeing of the patient. A person suffering from a disease has a weak immunity system and, therefore, is at increased risks of getting infections and injury. The nurse protects the patient by implementing measures and preventive precautions against ...