Have you ever wondered what a hospital nurse faces during a typical workday? We’re going to spill the beans here in an effort to demonstrate what thrilling career choice nursing really is. Make no mistake, nursing isn’t easy. Anyone who’s been a hospital nurse will tell you without hesitation, nursing is hard! Ask the same why they continue to work as a nurse and you’ll get the same answer every time. Nursing is equally rewarding. Let’s take a look and see why.
The typical hospital work day puts the nurse to work for twelve hours. Nurses can work these hours on a day shift or night shift with about 6 – 8 other nurses working the same hours. It’s an admittedly low staff number, but until the current nursing shortage ends, it’s considered the norm for now.
Each patient floor is fitted with around 9 – 11 employees. 6 – 8 nurses take care of about 6 – 8 patients – an admittedly large ratio. But fortunately, nursing assistants pick up some of the extra tasks. Both nurses and nursing assistants answer to a head nurse or supervisor, who not only manages a floor, but additionally offers help when needed as well. Security and a respiratory therapist completes the round.
At the start of each shift, each nurse reads his or her patient’s documentation generated from the nurse leaving the previous shift. This documentation records patient orders, lab reports, diagnostics test results, and changes in a patient’s mental or physical status.
Then the real work starts, in which the hospital nurse collects blood and urine samples, and monitors a patient’s heartbeat, motor signs, and temperature. Nurses issue medication, bed baths, grooming assistance, and help an appropriate amount of mild exercise (turning, sitting up, limb movement, or walking for example). The hospital nurse additionally makes beds and passes around water or ice. Other tasks include assisting patients with restroom activities, eating, and completing insurance forms if necessary.
The normal rounds of patient care occur every four hours unless there are problems. Problems are significant changes from anticipated outcomes which warrant doctor intervention).
At the end of each shift, each nurse adds new data to his or her patient’s documentation for the nurse entering the next shift.
When family members visit, tensions can increase as family may overreact to a patient’s condition or medical procedure, or simply inundate staff with unnecessary questions. Another situation that could increase tension is the occasional error. Nurses are people and people make mistakes. No one is immune from errors which is just one reason why the job can be stressful.
Fortunately mistakes aren’t a regular part of the routine. With adequate education and training, every nurse has the opportunity to perform his or her job correctly and ensure the safety of each patient assigned. Enroll in an online nursing program today and step up to the challenge. After graduation, you’ll become part of the health care industry’s most respected teams.
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