Nursing is one of the most critical and indispensable fields in any society. Working directly with sick people requires a great passion and professional vocation. They support their patients and watch over their health.
In this article, we’ll detail what a general nurse does to make a difference in patients’ lives.
What does a general nurse do?
You may be wondering what a typical day looks like and what a general nurse does on a regular basis to keep the healthcare system running smoothly. To answer these questions, you need to consider a number of factors, such as what type of environment you work in and what type of patients you regularly see.
However, there are many activities that are common to all persons practicing in the discipline of nursing, including the following:
administer medication
If a specialist doctor prescribes some type of medicine that the patient must take or that must be administered in a hospital or a clinic, the general nurse is responsible for this. The doctor sends a request for medication administration to the general nurse, who, in turn, will verify that there are no drug interactions with other medications that the patient is taking at that time and that the prescribed dose matches the hospital treatment guidelines. to subsequently apply the medication in accordance with the instructions.
If the patient presents any risk of reaction to the medicine, the general nurse will stay with him to observe if there are any repercussions or if the patient presents any adverse effect to it.
Regarding hospitalized patients, the general nurse administers all medications required by the patient throughout the day and night, following a strict schedule to ensure timely and accurate dosing to maintain health and ensure patient comfort. To achieve this, the general nurse must collaborate closely with the treating physician(s) and the institution ‘s pharmacy staff .
Actively treat patients
In many hospitals and clinics, general nurses play a major role in primary patient care. Doctors work with general nurses to plan and implement a patient care program based on each person’s individual response to specific treatment. Based on this, general nurses will assume the comprehensive care of patients in their care area.
Constantly assess patients
When a general nurse notices that a patient’s condition is not improving after initiating a specific treatment or therapy, they should communicate their assessment to the patient’s attending physician and recommend feasible changes to the plan of care. Consequently, the doctor may change the planned program of medical care based on feedback from the general nurse.
Maintain and update histories or medical records
Patient records are critical to proper medical care. Thorough and clear records enable healthcare professionals to deliver superior quality care. Likewise, they help the change of shifts of the nursing staff to be carried out without setbacks and without harming the patient.
Every time a general nurse examines a patient, checks their mood and physical status, administers medication, or assists with basic hygiene tasks, they must record these activities thoroughly. This is vital, since the patient’s history is often the key to identifying the most appropriate treatment and intolerances that could harm the patient’s health.
Currently, these records are maintained electronically, allowing a patient to change doctors or seek a second opinion without losing the ongoing care they are entitled to receive. Therefore, general nurses should have basic knowledge of the applications and software used for these purposes.
Monitor and record vital signs
Every time a nurse is in contact with a patient, they must measure and record vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. These are clear indicators of the patient’s condition at that time. If a patient has high blood pressure, outside the normal range, it may be an indication that the patient is feeling distressed or is in severe pain. Or if a particular patient has an acute fever, it can indicate that the person most likely has an infection.
In hospitals, general nurses have an established schedule regarding intervals for measuring vital signs and recording them periodically. These observations may include a visual assessment of the patient’s condition. Very experienced nurses can assess a patient’s level of well-being with just a head-to-toe scrutiny, without the patient even knowing. This allows them to alert doctors to any signs or symptoms of serious illness.
Provide emotional support
A hospital environment can be frightening for patients and their families, particularly if the condition is severe or degenerative. Because doctors don’t always have enough time to sit down with patients and reassure them, it’s the job of general nurses to reassure them and thoroughly explain the severity of their diagnoses.
Generally, it is the general nurses who accompany a patient after having been diagnosed with a serious condition or one that could be fatal if not treated in time. General nurses are the ones who hold patients’ hands during a painful medical procedure and who reassure patients who refuse to be treated. Therefore, general nurses must have the emotional strength to offer empathy and caring to patients and their families.
Understanding changes in patients
While attending physicians are responsible for performing the surgical interventions and medical procedures that a patient requires, general nurses perform vitally important functions for their care. They spend eight to twelve hours with patients and are able to observe and understand the small changes that can make all the difference in their recovery.
Guiding the patient and their relatives
General nurses are also responsible for ensuring that patients have a clear understanding of their health status, illnesses, medications and treatments to the best of their ability. This is essential when patients are being discharged from the hospital and need to take control of their own treatments.
A general nurse should spend as much time as necessary explaining to the patient and their family or carer what to do and what to expect when they leave the hospital or medical clinic. They also need to make sure that the patient feels supported and knows where to look for additional information.
The field of nursing is constantly evolving and there is a high demand for general nurses in all fields of medicine. In addition to offering extensive opportunities for significant professional development, this is a job that offers many valuable and rewarding benefits, which undoubtedly results in an enormous sense of satisfaction for these professionals who protect the health of society on a day-to-day basis.
