Currently employed at 3 million, nurses represent the largest single profession in the healthcare sector and are the backbone of the U.S. healthcare system (Diaz, 2021). But there’s still a nursing shortage that needs to be addressed, with a growing patient population requiring more care than in the past. Nurses are becoming more and more involved in both the clinical and administrative aspects of healthcare, and they are consistently rated as the most trustworthy profession in America.
The needs of a more complicated healthcare system have recently altered the function of nurses, and those with bachelor’s degrees are best suited to serve as caregivers and patient advocates in this new environment. Employers are realising more and more that people with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree are the best-equipped candidates to fill the nation’s expanding nursing shortage.
This blog post will address the function of nursing as nurses take on more responsibility and a world of compassionate care.
Nurses’ Place in Contemporary Healthcare
For an extended period, nurses have provided the general people with exceptional care. However gaining acceptance within the medical world required years of organizing, advocating, and—most importantly—advancing the field’s academic standing. Despite their numerous responsibilities, nurses were not considered essential members of a clinical care team seventy years ago. However, over time, they have battled for recognition and now enjoy greater autonomy and respect, as well as a more collaborative relationship with doctors and other healthcare professionals.
To comprehend the significance of nurses in the modern healthcare system, we must examine the duties performed by registered nurses, including their interactions with patients and collaborations with other healthcare professionals.
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Nurses Give Patients More Time
Recall a recent visit to the doctor. Most likely, a nurse was the first person you saw after checking in at the front desk. Probably made what seemed like a small talk between checking your vitals and inquiring about your health. But it was more than simply light talk to break the ice or make you feel more comfortable.
Astute nurses are aware that spending time getting to know their patients can be very beneficial in obtaining vital health information that the patients might not otherwise disclose. The nurse probably came back after the doctor saw you go over any prescription drugs with you and see if you had any other questions before assisting with your check-out.
Even more time is spent by nurses with patients in hospitals. Approximately 86% of the time that patients in critical care saw at least one healthcare professional was spent with nurses, compared to only 13% with doctors, according to a recent study. The amount of time spent with nurses increased considerably more in the event of overnight hospital stays.
Nurses in the Role of Patient Advocates
Nurses have a crucial role as advocates for their patient’s care because of the unique insights they gain from spending time with them about their needs, wants, behaviors, and health practices. Advocacy is one of the main reasons why nurses are crucial in the healthcare industry, according to the American Nurses Association, which defines it as a “pillar of nursing.”
A nurse’s advocacy job can also take many other forms. For instance, a nurse may discover crucial information during a conversation with a patient’s family member that was overlooked and communicated to the medical staff. Or a nurse may phone the pharmacist to discuss a medication concern if they feel it is not functioning as intended.
In addition, patient advocacy may include ensuring that a patient has given informed permission before a procedure or assisting in the coordination of the patient’s care with the office of another provider (ER, 2020).
Nursing’s Crucial Role in Education
Low health literacy among healthcare populations is a problem that the US healthcare sector faces. The capacity to comprehend fundamental health facts to make wise decisions is known as health literacy.
When it comes to explaining complex medical terminology to patients, doctors’ profound scientific knowledge of the area plays a significant role in their expertise. However, this knowledge can also provide communication challenges. Not to add, some patients might not know what questions to ask or feel scared of the medical profession.
Nurses spend a great deal of time and effort educating patients as part of their job. This could include educating them about a procedure or therapy, outlining the risks and benefits of drugs, stressing the value of healthy eating and hygiene, or providing an explanation of how a clinic runs (in the case of ongoing treatment).
The Nurse’s Role in Patient Health Monitoring
It is impossible to examine the function and path of nursing in the intricate healthcare system of today without bringing up the subjects of record-keeping and patient care monitoring. The function of nurses on the front lines of care was covered previously. Nurses are the ones who check on patients day in and day out, but doctors and other members of the care team do as well.
Nurses record vital signs, the reason for the visit, the patient’s likelihood of falling (called a “fall risk score”), and the medications the patient is currently taking when assessing a patient. After that, they compile the results of these evaluations, update the patients’ everlasting medical records, and apply the appropriate fees (a function of billing). Nurses put in a good deal of effort in maintaining records and informing the rest of the care team of important information.
Surprisingly, nurses today Have More Autonomy
If you’ve read anything about the nursing profession, you’ve probably heard that nurses now have more autonomy than they had a century ago. What does this mean specifically? Nurses are frequently the first to notice an issue, particularly during hospital stays. While it is customary to alert the attending physician, there are situations in which nurses must take prompt action to stabilize the patient.
In other situations, a doctor may specify in the order what circumstances a nurse can act without the doctor’s approval. (For instance, a nurse may give a patient magnesium without first contacting the doctor if the patient’s magnesium levels fall to a certain level.)
To exercise this autonomy, nurses must have a solid grasp of their area of expertise as well as cooperative, trustworthy relationships with doctors and other important members of the healthcare team. It also explains why a large number of hospitals employ nurses who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
References
David Diaz (2021). The Role Of Nursing In Healthcare. https://online.sunderland.ac.uk/the-role-of-nursing-in-healthcare/
ER (2020). How to Make Progress on Your Goals When You Feel Unmotivated? https://eazyresearch.com/blog/how-to-make-progress-on-your-goals-when-you-feel-unmotivated/
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