Nurses, also called registered nurses or RNs, take care of sick and injured people. They give people medicine. They treat wounds. And they give emotional support to patients and their families. Nurses ask patients about their symptoms and keep detailed records. They watch for signs that people are sick. Then, nurses help doctors examine and treat patients. Some nurses help to give tests to find out why people are sick. Some also do lab work to get test results. Nurses also teach people how to take care of themselves and their families. Some nurses teach people about diet and exercise and how to follow doctors' instructions. Some nurses run clinics and immunization centers.
Nurses can focus on treating one type of patient, such as babies or children. They can also focus on one type of problem. Some focus on helping doctors during surgery, for example. Others work in emergency rooms or intensive care units. Many nurses work in doctors' offices. They help with medical tests, give medicines, and dress wounds. Some also do lab and office work. Home health nurses go to people's homes to help them. Flight nurses fly in helicopters to get to sick people in emergencies. Some nurses have special training and can do more advanced work. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medicine. Nurse midwives can help women give birth. Helping sick people and dealing with medical emergencies can be stressful. Nurses in hospitals often have to help many patients at once.
Many nurses spend a lot of time walking and standing. Nurses also need to be careful in order to stay safe. Nurses care for people who have diseases that they can catch too. And nurses can get hurt while helping to move patients. Nurses also need to guard against radiation from x-rays and chemicals in medicine. Because patients need 24-hour care, hospital nurses often work nights, weekends, and holidays. Office nurses are more likely to work regular hours. Many nurses work part time.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS JOB PAY?
The middle half of all registered nurses earned between $47,710 and $69,850 in 2006. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $40,250. The highest-paid 10 percent made more than $83,440.
