Registered Nurse

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR); Charge Nurse; Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse); Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse); Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN); Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse); Relief Charge Nurse; School Nurse; Staff Nurse; Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse)

Tasks

• Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
• Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
• Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
• Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
• Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
• Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
• Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
• Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
• Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
• Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
• Conduct specified laboratory tests.
• Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.
• Assess the needs of individuals, families, or communities, including assessment of individuals' home or work environments, to identify potential health or safety problems.
• Work with individuals, groups, or families to plan or implement programs designed to improve the overall health of communities.
• Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.

Knowledge

• Psychology
• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• English Language
• Administrative
• Mathematics
• Therapy and Counseling
• Administration and Management
• Education and Training
• Public Safety and Security
• Biology

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Monitoring
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Near Vision
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Speech Recognition
• Category Flexibility
• Flexibility of Closure
• Fluency of Ideas
• Memorization
• Speed of Closure
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Trunk Strength
• Far Vision
• Originality
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Number Facility
• Visualization
• Multilimb Coordination
• Static Strength