Define Vocational Nursing

Vocational nurses care for disabled, sick and injured patients. They are an extremely important aspect of the medical community and their job requires extensive training and education. Though not always, vocational nurses usually work under licensed doctors and/or registered nurses.

Function

• One of the main duties of vocational nurses is administering medicine.

  Vocational nurses have many duties, some of which are recording and analyzing vital information, bedside attendance, administering medications, treating wounds, and assisting in general and basic needs of the patient. Vocational nurses may also be in charge of any nursing aides, depending on the facility in which they are working.

Primary Tasks

• Although vocational nurses provide many services, the main service is that of record keeping. Performing simple tests, collecting samples, monitoring consumption, and assisting medical doctors with certain procedures is the primary objective. Vocational nurses are expected to communicate with the patient to find out how he is feeling, and whether he is responding well to new medications and treatments.

Skillset

• Nurses must be team players.

  Since communication is one of the main requirements of the job, vocational nurses must have great bedside manner, and be able to engage with the patient in a comfortable, warm, and receptive way. Nurses who gain the patient's trust and establish a relationship with them are often the nurses with the best results. Vocational nurses also must be able to work well with others, as they are part of a larger medical team all administering to the same patient, with the same goals and concerns in mind.

Types

• Vocational nurses can be found in numerous medical facilities including nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and home health services. All of the above require specialized nurses.

Prerequisites

• To become a vocational nurse candidates must have at least one year of vocational education before applying for licensing. Some countries do not require a vocational nurse to achieve a high school diploma, though this is rare. Specific nursing training, however, is required throughout the world.