Learn about the most common nursing duties, responsibilities, and procedures in the hospital

Overview

Nursing is a noble profession and an incredibly rewarding career path. Nurses not only save people's lives but they offer compassion and kindness to people in need  They are often a source of comfort, safety, and security for many people. 

Nurse White 

If you’re an aspiring Registered Nurse (RN) ) then this article will cover some of the most common duties and procedures you may encounter throughout your career. 

What Duties Do Registered Nurses (RNs) Have?

 The most common roles and responsibilities of a Registered Nurse  can vary depending on your interest, specialty, location, employer, and level of experience.

Registered Nurses (RN) typically perform the following duties:

• Assess their patient’s health conditions
• Record their patient’s medical histories and symptoms
• Monitor a patient’s health or recovery while recording their observations
• Administer medications and/or treatments to patients while under their care
• Develop or contribute to uniquely tailored patient-care plans
• Collaborate with physicians and other members of the healthcare team
• Operate and monitor medical equipment
• Perform and analyze the results of various diagnostic exams
• Teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses or injuries
• Educate patients and their families on how to follow their prescribed treatment and recovery instructions upon returning home.

Let's  dive into some of the specific duties and procedures typically performed by Registered Nurses.

1. Venipuncture

Nurse collecting blood sample

Venipuncture is a very important medical procedure commonly used to collect blood samples, administer medications, and perform blood transfusions. It’s especially important for nurses to learn the proper methods for collectibg blood sample, as well as the various methods and techniques for collecting blood in a healthcare environment.

What Is Venipuncture?

Venipuncture  is the process of collecting or drawing blood intravenously from a patient for the purpose laboratory investigation This is typically done by inserting  a  needle into a patient’s vein to collect blood samples for laboratory testing.

In most cases, blood is drawn from a vein inside the patient’s forearm or the back of their hand. The procedure is mostly performed by nurses, medical laboratory scientists, medical practitioners, phlebotomists, dialysis technicians, and other nursing staff. Here are the steps they follow:

Sterilize the site with an antiseptic wipe.

Place an elastic band around the patient’s upper arm to apply pressure to the area (the vein will swell with blood).

• Insert a needle slightly and gently into the proper vein.
• Collect the blood in airtight vials or tubes attached to the needle.
• Remove the band from the patient’s arm to release pressure 
• Take out the needle and cover the spot with a cotton swab.

When Do Nurses Perform Venipuncture?

Most nurses are required to learn venipuncture. While not always taught in nursing school, many programs recommend that aspiring nurses take supplemental courses to hone this skill.

Although most hospitals will rely on phlebotomy teams to perform this procedure, but it is still important for nurses to develop this skillset so that they may provide patients with the best care. 

As a matter of fact, nurses in some facilities are required to become proficient in venipuncture.

Blood transfusion

Credit: Wikipedia 

Blood transfusion is a lifesaving medical procedure that involves transferring or tranfussing  blood or blood products from a donor into a patient's bloodstream. This medical intervention helps replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or disease, restoring essential functions and promoting recovery.

To administer a blood transfusion, nurses place a thin needle into a vein usually located in the arm or hand which allows blood to move from a bag, through a rubber tube, and into the patient’s vein through the needle. Nurses must closely monitor their patient’s vital signs throughout this procedure.

When Do Nurses Perform Blood Transfusions?

Nurses often perform blood transfusions under the direction of a doctor’s order. 

here are the first seven steps that nurses typically follow:

• Verify the doctor’s order. Inform the patient and explain the purpose of the procedure.
• Check for cross matching and blood type to ensure compatibility.
• 
  
• Measure the patient’s vital signs.
• Practice strict asepsis.

At least two RNs should check the label of the blood transfusion to review the following information:

• Serial number
• Blood component
• Blood type
• Rh factor
• Expiration date
• Screening test (VDRL, HBsAg, malarial smear) – This is to ensure that the blood is free from blood-carried diseases and, therefore, safe for transfusion.

Blood for the transfusion should be warmed to room temperature to prevent chills.

Prepare a needle for the transfusion using a needle gauge of 18 to 19 to allow easy flow of blood.

Note

• Assess the patients vital signs before administering blood 
• Observe possible blood reactions during transfusion and stop the blood in such reaction occurs.
• Call the doctor on.