Important Roles of Hospital Nurses

Almost anyone who has visited a physician or hospital has received care from a registered nurse. Hospital nurses have a wide range of important roles ranging from administrative duties to medical care procedures. Hospital nurses often specialize in a specific area of the hospital, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, or emergency medicine. Nurses work in conjunction with doctors to provide patients with regimented medical care.

Director of Nursing Services

• According to federal regulations, hospitals that accept Medicare patients must have a director of nursing services. The director must be a nurse who determines the numbers of nurses needed for care in different parts of the hospital. The director is responsible for making sure the hospital has enough nurses to adequately care for all of its patients.

Administrative Work

• Hospital nurses often perform administrative work, like writing down patient symptoms, recording medical histories, recording medical test results, arranging consultations with doctors, and answering patient questions over the phone.

Anesthesia

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide anesthesia to hospital patients, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. These nurses have advanced training and are able to administer anesthesia in the same way as an anesthesiologist would. CRNAs work with surgeons, dentists and other health care professionals.

Neonatal Care

• Important roles of hospital nurses include neonatal and infant care, according to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Neonatal nurses help take care of babies in neonatal intensive care units at hospitals and provide support and care for their families.

Advice

• Nurses provide advice to patients and families of patients, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This advice can include a variety of topics including how to treat an illness or injury, how to take care of a sick child, when to take medication, dietary advice, exercise advice, and helping families cope emotionally with a loved one's hardships.

Medical Procedures

• Registered nurses perform a variety of medical procedures in hospitals and other care settings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They perform tasks like starting IVs, administering medications, inserting catheters, and caring for patients after surgery.

Other Hospital Nurses

• Hospital nurses with advanced training include nurse-practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, Certified Nurse-Midwives, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.