Nurse - Registered
Registered nurses assess, plan, provide and evaluate preventative, curative and rehabilitative care for patients, clients and residents in a wide variety of settings.
Registered nurses may perform the following tasks:
- provide physical and technical nursing care and support for patients
- make sure patients receive treatment prescribed by doctors and other health professionals
- provide emotional and psychological support and information to patients and their families
- supervise, or carry out, nursing care of patients
- observe, monitor, assess, report and document patients' conditions and responses to treatment
- give medicines in accordance with sound working knowledge of legislation and pharmacology
- monitor and adjust medical equipment used in patient care and treatment, which can be highly technical and complex
- prepare patients for operations or provide post-operative care such as wound care and nutritional management
- assist in the rehabilitation of patients
- assist with patients' discharge planning
- provide first aid, assist in routine medical examinations, give advice on health matters and maintain sickness and accident records (where employed by large industrial or commercial organisations)
- answer questions and provide information to patients and families about health promotion, treatment and care
- contribute to the clinical training of nursing and midwifery students
- supervise enrolled nurses and other hospital staff.
Specialisations:
Areas of specialist nursing practice include mental health nursing, aged care, cancer/oncology nursing, critical care, perioperative, community health, rural and remote area nursing, policy, research, management, education and workplace health and safety.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
A clinical nurse specialist is a registered nurse who has demonstrated competency in advanced practice or has developed competency in an area of specialisation.
Community Health Nurse
A community health nurse works in the wider community, providing nursing care, health counselling, health forums and group programs to individuals, families and groups. They may develop and facilitate community development programs with a health promotion focus.
Mental Health Nurse
A mental health nurse provides nursing care to patients with mental and emotional problems who are undergoing treatment and support in hospitals, clinics, community settings or private homes.
Nurse Educator
A nurse educator assists in the design, implementation and assessment of education programs, the delivery of education and staff development programs and manages educational resources.
Nurse Manager
A nurse manager is responsible for the effective management of staffing and financial resources enabling the provision of safe, cost effective nursing care within a specified field or across an entire hospital or health service.
Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner has highly developed skills and knowledge in a specialty field, for example wound care, sexual health or aged care. They work independently in their area of specialty and can prescribe medications and tests.
Nurse Researcher
A nurse researcher conducts research into nursing and health issues.
Nursing Unit Manager
A nursing unit manager is responsible for the coordination and delivery of care in a specific ward or department or in community settings. They work in collaboration with clinical nurses to give direct nursing care to patients with complex care needs, facilitate staff development and undertake research.
Practice Nurse
A practice nurse is employed by general practitioners to conduct general treatments. They may also work in chronic disease management, health promotion and perform other general practice and administrative duties.
In hospitals, nurses usually work according to a rotating seven-day roster which includes morning, afternoon and night shifts, weekends and public holidays. In other areas, the hours depend on the service.
Personal Requirements:
- good communication skills
- able to assume responsibility and a leadership role
- able to take the initiative in emergencies
- tolerance, patience and tact in dealing with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures
- able to work both independently and as part of a team
- mentally and physically fit.
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Education and Training, Employment Opportunities and Additional Information
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