The Role of Nurses is Important in Healthcare: In many nations of the world, the healthcare sector is one of the highly prioritized sectors and the role of the UTA’s online masters in nursing education profession in the healthcare sector can not be overemphasized. So, it is right to say that Nursing is one of the major backbones of the healthcare sector.
A nurse with a master’s degree can relate better with patients than other healthcare professionals, which is why they play a big role in the well-being of patients. Through a strong relationship with patients, they not only administer medications but are also able to provide emotional support to those who need it.
Over the years, there have always been arguments about the most important person between a doctor and a nurse. But the truth is that they both function better when they partner together. The assistance that nurses provide doctors cannot be neglected. Therefore, this post focuses on the key nurses play in healthcare.
Important Roles of Nurses in Healthcare
The following are the important roles nurses play in the healthcare sector:
Nurses document patients’ Medical History and Symptoms
Before a patient begins to receive treatments, it is important to know the medical history and symptoms of the patient. With precise knowledge of this, proper treatment can be given to the patient. It is the responsibility of nurses to find out and keep proper records and documentation.
This includes asking for past diagnoses, surgeries, and medications the patient has received. The patient’s allergies are also important to know the type of treatment to give as well as the signs and symptoms. The record must be updated from time to time as the patient receives treatment.
Nurses administer treatment to patients
Well-trained and qualified nurses can administer treatments and medications to patients on the order of a physician. In fact, nurses who are specialized in certain areas, might not need the physician’s order before they administer medication.
There could be emergency situations that require urgent attention. In cases like this, nurses can administer treatments that can help stabilize the patient before the doctor comes on board. This includes quick treatments like wound dressing and bandaging. And nurses also help doctors in caring for patients in critical situations.
Nurses are directly involved in Care Planning
Nurses most times join hands with the medical team to ensure treatment is properly dispensed. Since they collect and document vital information about the patient’s health, they relate it to the medical team in a way that will explain the current situation of the patient.
With this, the nurse is directly involved in influencing the treatment process for the patient. And a nurse must be able to carefully look at the signs the patient is experiencing to be able to give useful recommendations about treatment to the medical team.
Nurses carry out Important Tests
After the patient’s medical history and symptoms have been known, nurses go-ahead to perform a series of diagnostic tests. These tests include the blood test, urine or stool test. Samples of all these are collected to carry out some analysis.
It is important to monitor every detail of the test because the information from the test will determine the diagnosis and treatment that will be administered. Nurses also relate the findings from the analysis to the medical team.
Nurses carry out Physical Examinations on Patients
Asides from all the tests that will be carried out, nurses also carry out physical examinations on patients for proper evaluation of health. They are vital things that must be noted. They include checking the patient’s temperature, weight, heartbeat, and also blood pressure.
The sense organs like the eyes, nose, and ears are also checked. The observations made by the nurse during these examinations will help the medical team to be informed about the patient’s health status as well as measures to be taken.
Nurses monitor the health status of patients from time to time
Nurses have the responsibility of critically monitoring the health status of their patients to know how well the patient is responding to treatment. Frequent monitoring of the health status will also help to discover new symptoms to know if there will be a need for further diagnosis.
Since the nurse is responsible for taking records at the initial stage before any treatment, the nurse should be in a good position to monitor the developments in the health status. The record can be updated through this and the patient will keep getting the required treatments too.
Nurses advise patients and provide Emotional Support
Patients need adequate care, both physical and emotional. Nurses have the responsibility of providing good care to patients. This is very easy since nurses easily develop close relationships with patients.
There could be times when providing emotional support will greatly help a patient, especially in times when the patient receives bad medical news. Nurses also advise patients on vital steps and coping methods that could be taken to help the situation.
Nurses Enlighten patients on how to manage a medical condition
Nurses have the role of educating their patients on how to manage different medical conditions. This includes giving instruction on how to cope with symptoms that come with the medical condition.
Also, the patient should be informed about the possible causes of such a condition to adjust. Nurses also have the responsibility of enlightening the public about common diseases and their causes as well as preventive measures through seminars.
Nurses Operate various Medical Equipment
In order to care for patients, nurses make use of a won’t range of tools and equipment for diagnosis. These include stethoscopes, blood pressure machines, thermometers, and other important equipment.
There are some specialized equipment that only doctors use majorly, but nurses can be specially trained to operate some of this equipment So it’s important for nurses to be technologically inclined to make it easy to operate such machines.
More Nurses
From all that has been discussed, nurses are very important in the health sector which is why they are highly respected. The US Bureau of labor statistics has predicted that about 275,000 more nurses will be needed between 2020 and 2030. This shows that nurses will always be needed in the healthcare sector.