Registered Nurse (RN)

On a hospital floor, an RN typically manages four to six patients per shift, starting with a head-to-toe assessment of each one, reviewing vital signs, lab results, and overnight events before rounding with physicians. Throughout the shift, nurses start and monitor IV lines, administer medications after verifying dose and interactions, change wound dressings, reposition immobile patients to prevent bed sores, and document every intervention in the electronic health record for legal and care-continuity purposes.

Nurses serve as the primary point of contact translating physician orders into bedside care, catching prescribing errors, and escalating concerns when a patient's condition changes, which requires recognizing early warning signs like subtle shifts in breathing or mental status before they become emergencies. In the emergency department, triage nurses quickly sort incoming patients by acuity to decide who needs immediate attention.

Discharge planning involves teaching patients and family members how to manage medications, wound care, or a new diagnosis like diabetes at home, and coordinating with case managers on follow-up care or equipment needs. Nurses also train new hires and precept nursing students during clinical rotations. Licensure requires passing the NCLEX-RN exam after completing an accredited nursing program.