Duties and Tasks

Registered nurses may perform the following tasks:

• provide physical and technical nursing care and support for patients
• make sure patients receive treatment prescribed by doctors and other health professionals
• provide emotional and psychological support and information to patients and their families
• supervise, or carry out, nursing care of patients
• observe, monitor, assess, report and document patients' conditions and responses to treatment
• give medicines in accordance with sound working knowledge of legislation and pharmacology
• monitor and adjust medical equipment used in patient care and treatment, which can be highly technical and complex
• prepare patients for operations or provide post-operative care such as wound care and nutritional management
• assist in the rehabilitation of patients
• assist with patients' discharge planning
• provide first aid, assist in routine medical examinations, give advice on health matters and maintain sickness and accident records (where employed by large industrial or commercial organisations)
• answer questions and provide information to patients and families about health promotion, treatment and care
• supervise enrolled nurses and other hospital staff.

Work Conditions

In hospitals, nurses usually work according to a rotating seven-day roster that includes morning, afternoon and night shifts, as well as weekends and public holidays. In other areas, the hours depend on the service.

Personal Requirements

• good communication skills
• able to assume responsibility and a leadership role
• able to take initiative in emergencies
• tolerance, patience and tact in dealing with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures
• able to work both independently and as part of a team
• able to cope with the mental and physical demands of the job.

  

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