subject: Everything That You Must Know About The 5 Different Nurse Jobs Levels [print this page] A gamut of responsibilities rest on nurses, and their aid is needed every step of the way starting from patient admission to discharge in a healthcare establishment. Trained nurses are always in great demand in a hospital because the tasks they have to undertake are often overwhelming. In a normal hospital there are 5 different categories of nurses rendering support.
Hospitals employ 5 different levels of nurses, depending on skill sets:
*Many untrained individuals work at a very basic level as nurse aides. Their tasks are simple as they provide meals to patients change their bed sheets, clean rooms, changes dresses and transfers patients to operation theatres and take them for tests. These individuals are unlicensed and hence they are not allowed to handle machines, administer medicines or monitor vitals.
*LPNs or the Licensed Practical Nurses are slightly better paid than nurse aids. Although they are allowed to monitor patient's vitals and administer some medication, these acts are performed strictly under the supervision of doctors. They also often take care of several administrative functions and are responsible for the smooth running of the hospitals.
*Registered nurses or RNs render various kinds of critical care to patients. Registered nurses have to pass tough examinations to become eligible for the job. They can administer intravenous medications, stitch wounds, check vital signs, operate machines and they report the status of patients directly to practitioners. One of their main tasks is working between the service provider and patients. Different hospitals have different policies of employment of RNs.
*Hospitals also employ experienced registered nurses as nurse supervisors. Their job is to explore whether or not nurses are doing their jobs properly. They are responsible for assigning duties to nurses working under them. Also these supervisors maintain a stock of medicines and other supplies, work with doctors, prepare patient check-up schedules and they also know which nurses are attending which patients.
*Nurse practitioners or NPs can be labelled as half doctors. This is because they can diagnose disorders and provide prescriptions for medicines. The job is specialized and only a handful of nurse practitioners employed by hospitals. They are entrusted with the task of handling patients who are not critical and their ailments can be cured without complicated medical interventions. Preventive treatments are their specialties.
Hospitals run efficiently because of the support rendered by the nurses. Hospitals thus ensure that the best get employed,and hence employment rules vary from hospital to hospital. Many hospitals have their own screening processes for employment even though basic requirements remain the same.
