Audiologist

Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and families about health conditions, and provide emotional support during illness and recovery. The work encompasses assessing patient health through observation and physical examination; administering medications and treatments; developing care plans in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare team members; operating and monitoring medical equipment; recording patient histories and symptoms; and educating patients on managing chronic conditions and post-discharge care. RNs work in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, nursing homes, schools, correctional facilities, and patients' homes. Specializations include critical care, emergency, pediatrics, oncology, labor and delivery, psychiatric nursing, and public health. The profession demands clinical knowledge, critical thinking for rapid decision-making, physical stamina for 12-hour shifts, and emotional resilience for managing patient suffering and death while maintaining professional composure.

Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of physicians, examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and performing procedures. The work encompasses taking patient histories, conducting physical examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, counseling patients on preventive care and treatment options, assisting in surgery, and managing chronic disease care. PAs work across medical specialties including primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry, dermatology, and orthopedics, often serving as the primary care provider for many patients. The role requires clinical decision-making skills to diagnose conditions based on symptoms and test results, communication skills to explain complex medical information to patients, and the judgment to recognize when cases require physician consultation. PAs in primary care settings often manage patient panels independently, providing continuity of care that builds long-term therapeutic relationships. In surgical settings, they assist with procedures and manage pre- and post-operative care. The profession requires graduate-level education and national certification.

Respiratory therapists evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders ranging from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly patients with chronic respiratory disease. The work involves assessing patients' cardiopulmonary function through examination and diagnostic tests, developing and implementing treatment plans, administering oxygen and aerosol medications, managing mechanical ventilators, performing airway management procedures, educating patients on respiratory conditions and treatments, and responding to emergencies requiring respiratory intervention. Respiratory therapists work in critical care units managing life support for the most seriously ill patients, in emergency departments stabilizing patients in respiratory distress, in sleep laboratories diagnosing sleep apnea, and in patients' homes teaching management of chronic conditions. The role requires clinical judgment to assess patient status and adjust treatments accordingly, technical skills to operate complex life-support equipment, and the ability to remain calm while managing life-threatening respiratory emergencies.