What do RN REALLY DO

Hey i just wanted to get a response from all the RN out there what do u guys do, whats your role.
honey22

Well, I am in charge of QA and treatments. I monitor Infection Control in the Facility where i work, I monitor people who are at risk for skin break down.....implement any and all wound care, take off orders, notify certain doctors about labs. That is some of what I do.

'Cat'

HONEY22 wrote:Hey i just wanted to get a response from all the RN out there what do u guys do, whats your role.
honey22

I like "whole wheat" myself. Ya know "role" Sorry..LOL

Ok now for the real poop. In the morning I check meters,AED,crash cart, set up some machines, call the hospital to see if any or our patients are in the hospital.

Set up for my catheter patients,check on any labs that need drawing, count meds, make the patient schedule, print up my med list. This all starts at 0530.

At 0630 we start bringing in patients. I assess patients in my pod as the tech put them on. Discuss dry weights with them and decide how much "weight" I am gonna take off them. Ask if they need scripts refilled or anything else from the doc. He/she makes rounds on Mon/Tues. I put on my catheter patients in rotations as the tech can't put on catheter patients here in NM.

After all the patients are on I check on any no shows. Maybe reschedule them. Trouble shoot pesky catheters and maybe call the cath lab to get them in for a tune up.

Reprint my patient census if we have had no shows, reprint my med list. If we did have a no show don't want to throw away that dialyzer so we'll see if an afternoon or evening patient can come in.

Draw up my meds and give them. Answer the phone and put out any fires that might be smoldering. Patients needing to change times or too sick to come in. etc.

Go to breakfast. Come back get ready to do it all over again.

During the quiet times I assess patient's dry weights and adjust them put them in the computer and print that out for the docs to sign. Check on labs and adjust Epo, zemplar, K baths, and call for Venofer orders. Monitor patients when techs go to break.

Do monthly summaries and long or short term care plans.

Some days are 12hr days some are 15..

:houra:

As an ER nurse I do the following:

Triage (see patients first, evaluate who needs to be seen immediately or who is stable enough to wait in the waiting rm.)

During busy times, order basic tests before the patient is seen by the Dr. (EKG, labs, x-rays...)

Procedures (IV's, caths, NG tubes, blood draws, EKG's, & more...)

Act as primary nurse for trauma patients (evaluate, perform &/or assist w/ procedures, charting, administering meds, coordinating with other allied health areas- Resp. therapists, radiology, etc...)

Administer medications, monitoring, managing IV drips...

Admitting patients or coordinating their transfer when necessary.

Charting, charting, & more charting!

There are a ton of other things I'm sure I'm forgetting, but these are the main things.

Hey guys thanks for your input and amanda thanks for yours to u seem to be very vocal on stuff, i didnt know you where a RN, Its good to see they just dont stand around and do nothing honey22

As L&D, postpartum, GYN nurse
Admit/assess pregnant women determine who's in labor and who isn't
labs, IV's, medications, assess labor progression or lack thereof.
lots of stuff to do with fetal monitoring
assist with epidural placements
deliver baby if doctor doesn't make it
circulate c-sections
recover post op
clean delivery rooms after 3pm
lots of paperwork
maintain equipment
immediate care of newborn
assist with breastfeeding
teach lots of stuff
make beds
waitress
answer call lights
TCDB post ops
charge nurse tasks (assignments of patients, unit tasks)
committees (I'm on 5)
teach NRP (neonatal CPR)
comfort grieving families
keep big baby doctors from having their heads explode
more teaching more paperwork more classes
not lots of just standing around on any routine basis
oh then as a level 3 RN (highest my hospital goes)
also have to do inservices, maintain certification, community service, precept

cassioo wrote:waitress

LOL- unfortunately, I end up doing a lot of this, too! Sometimes I feel like asking, "would you like fries with that?" ;)

AmandaWIRN wrote:LOL- unfortunately, I end up doing a lot of this, too! Sometimes I feel like asking, "would you like fries with that?" ;)

Since I work on a "well" floor we try to get patients to do some for themselves but I love the calls "I need a new blanket the baby peed on it" you take the blanket and oh I needed a sheet too or gown too or as soon as you walk out could I have a drink too. When I answer the light I always say is there anything else she needs to bring with her? Even if I am the her that will be bringing things.

:endof:

I swear we nurses are Jacks/Jills of all trades! I do so many other things that I couldn't list them all earlier. :p

'Cat'

Oh thats good that all of u do all things, what do u have to do to be a RN WHAT Qualifications experience do u need,AND can u be a RN at any age, i am 22 could i be a RN.:luck:
HONEY22

HONEY22 wrote:Oh thats good that all of u do all things, what do u have to do to be a RN WHAT Qualifications experience do u need,AND can u be a RN at any age, i am 22 could i be a RN.:luck:
HONEY22

In the US you have to go to nursing school either a 2 or 4 year program, you have to pass school then you have to take an exam. There is no age requirement. If you got out of highschool when you were 17 or 18 and went to a 2 year program you could be done by 19 or 20. Experience comes from doing the work not from any schooling.

I was 23 when I graduated with my bachelor's (4 year) degree & started working as an RN.

cassioo wrote:In the US you have to go to nursing school either a 2 or 4 year program, you have to pass school then you have to take an exam. There is no age requirement. If you got out of highschool when you were 17 or 18 and went to a 2 year program you could be done by 19 or 20. Experience comes from doing the work not from any schooling.

Cass I believe some states do have an age requirement. I just don't know which ones they are. Not many though

onetraveler wrote:Cass I believe some states do have an age requirement. I just don't know which ones they are. Not many though

That may be I've never heard it before but it may be. I did a quick google search and all I saw was 18 except for military that has minimum and max. I guess I can just say in know where I've taught clinicals we I've had students right out of highschool and have worked with a few also just went straight from highschool to nursing school.

cassioo wrote:That may be I've never heard it before but it may be. I did a quick google search and all I saw was 18 except for military that has minimum and max. I guess I can just say in know where I've taught clinicals we I've had students right out of highschool and have worked with a few also just went straight from highschool to nursing school.

I was just thinking of some of those exceptional students who go to college at 10. But I think most of them are math whizzes.. LOL

onetraveler wrote:I was just thinking of some of those exceptional students who go to college at 10. But I think most of them are math whizzes.. LOL

I've seen a couple that were medical students but I wouldn't think they would have a big practice I don't think I'd go to a 10 year old doctor LOL I think most of them are in research or just keep going to school.....I still don't know if there is a minimum any place for nursing boards

Honey,

You seem to have some background in the medical field and a lot of intrest in nursing. What is your occupation?

R

Amanda,


How much experience do you need to start off in ER nursing? That is what im most interested to work in, i start nursing school (2 year) this fall. Ive seen that typically the specialized areas require you to have at least a year of experience in.


Brandon

ROE_Wedge wrote:Amanda,


How much experience do you need to start off in ER nursing? That is what im most interested to work in, i start nursing school (2 year) this fall. Ive seen that typically the specialized areas require you to have at least a year of experience in.


Brandon

Occasionally, ER's will hire new grads, especially if they have prior experience as an ER tech or paramedic, but if you've never worked in an ER before, I'd reccommend getting a year of med/surg-type experience in first. I worked in Peds before switching to ER. If you're still in school, you could try getting a part-time position as an ER tech during school.