What does your typical day looks like as registered nurse?
#nursing #registered-nurses #nurse #healthcare
4 answers
Jessica’s Answer
Myself I have worked on a telemetry floor ( for cardiac patients), in the emergency room, on an ambulance as a critical care transport nurse, in a procedure unit ( cardiac catheterization lab) and then I decided to go back to school and become a nurse Practitioner.
I have friends who have also worked in doctors offices, school nursing, telephone nursing, and employee health nursing, travel nurses, and even working with industry partners in research and development. Most nursing schools train you in a hospital because that is where you get exposure to the most procedures and medicines, but it may not be the right fit for you or you lifestyle, so dont give up on nursing just look around.
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Kathleen’s Answer
Every day is different, but usually on my hospital floor, after getting report, I check to see if any of my patients are scheduled to go anywhere, like xray or physical therapy. First check each patient, and update their boards so they are informed of the day's events. Start your assessments on the patients (this may have to be finished later for various reasons). Medications are passed starting at 10am usually. Wound care, feedings, or procedures are fit in as best you can during the day. Interruptions happen, someone in pain,
another with shortness of breath, family members to speak to.....just prioritize and work with your team.
Ashley’s Answer
0700- Patient assignments are given
0705-0730- Shift report (the offgoing nurse tells me all about our patients and we go over orders)
0800- first assessment of the patient, scheduled medications given, labs drawn, morning X-rays, empty drains ect.
1000- Rounds- Doctors, physcical therapist, nurse, respiratory therapist all meet together to discuss the plan of care for the day
1100 usually after rounds there are new orders to go through, x rays, labs to be drawn
1200 Another assessment, meds, labs and chartring on my pateint
1300 maybe lunch if there is time?!?
Reapeat until change of shift at 1900!
Days are unpredictable and change all the time depending on the patients condition! For example sometimes patients require a neurological assessment every hour, some patients only need vitals checked every four hours and at other times when you get a fresh post op or a patient is not doing well you hardly have a second to leave the room!