The main pros and cons of being a nurse. Nurse: what makes this profession special? Can a doctor work as a nurse?

A nurse is an employee who carries out all the doctor’s orders. The role of nurses in the activities of any medical institution is extremely difficult to overestimate. For this reason, many women prefer this particular profession, which allows them to take care of employment in the shortest possible time and places much fewer demands than on doctors.

Job responsibilities of nurses

At work, every nurse must be a constant intermediary between the doctor and all his patients. The specialist must communicate with patients, provide moral support and care for them.

In this case, the work responsibilities of nurses are as follows:

1. Providing first aid. Every medical worker must be prepared for this.
2. Performing intramuscular and intravenous injections. The nurse must have a good knowledge of human anatomy in order to successfully perform such a manipulation.
3. Nursing. This responsibility is fundamental.
4. Collection of tests. This duty is performed only in accordance with medical advice.
5. Prescribing medications and further monitoring their intake by patients. The medication course should be carried out only according to a specific schedule.
6. Installation of droppers, which is performed only when necessary. In the future, full monitoring is required for the effective administration of prescribed drugs.
7. Sterilization of medical instruments. This responsibility must be fulfilled before diagnostic or therapeutic measures in order to maintain sterility.
8. Records management. It is important to note that all documents are completed in accordance with current standards.
9. Preparing patients for operations and other medical procedures. Nurses are also required to prepare operating rooms.
10. Carrying out therapeutic and preventive procedures (for example, paraffin, electrophoresis). Such activities must be carried out according to certain standards.

The list of work responsibilities of any nurse turns out to be quite extensive, and it always depends on the position and specialization. The unifying aspect is the need to provide assistance and care to patients.

Only those women who are able to empathize and have compassion for their neighbors can become nurses. At the same time, for successful work you need not only to know the specifics of performing all duties, but also to be a good psychologist, since patients often need psychological support from nurses.

Taking into account such aspects, one can understand how important it is to have high level of stress resistance, because sick people have different personalities and come to the doctor with different diagnoses and cannot always count on recovery.

To successfully perform most duties, character traits such as attentiveness, accuracy, responsibility, accuracy, and the ability to self-organize are required.

Employment Opportunities

The profession of a nurse is one of the most common. Employees with such qualifications are required in every medical institution, so the chances of employment are quite high.

If you have a higher education, you can apply for the position of senior nurse or chief nurse. If you do get an education in the field of medicine, you can later become an experienced doctor.

Advantages and disadvantages of being a nurse

Every nurse should be prepared for the fact that the chosen profession has both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Nurses can expect the following employment benefits:

• Opportunity to obtain medical education for further career advancement.
• Understanding that a nurse saves the lives of many people.
• Gratitude to patients who received support and received treatment with the help of a nurse.
• An experienced nurse can find a suitable part-time job in the shortest possible time. Thus, earning additional income becomes the best option for nurses who strive for optimal living conditions.

The above benefits of working as a nurse help ensure that your work life brings joy and optimal income.

Flaws

It is important to understand that when working as a nurse, there are the following disadvantages of the profession:

• Night duty, which often falls on holidays.
• Minimum salary level.
• Stressful situations that you often encounter at work.
• Serious physical activity, for which not all nurses are prepared.
• The risk of contracting an infectious disease while interacting with patients.
• Not all sick people can show gratitude.

Despite the above disadvantages, working as a nurse can be in demand and quite prestigious given modern realities.

Every future nurse should prepare in advance for the fact that she will have to face some difficulties when performing her work duties. To successfully fulfill existing obligations, you should prepare in advance for what the work will require. a lot of physical and moral strength.

Nurses should always be particularly respectful of doctors' orders and closely monitor the progress of patients' treatment. Any conflict situations must be prevented in advance, since nurses are doctors’ assistants, psychologists for patients, and organizers of the treatment process.

Nurses must be prepared to perform high-quality work duties even during night shifts. Only with such an attitude towards the profession can you count on success in your work life.

A nurse (in the male version: male nurse) is a specialist with a specialized secondary medical education who helps a doctor, provides pre-hospital medical care, and performs many tasks for the needs of a medical institution.

Depending on what specialty the nurse is assigned to, she performs various auxiliary functions: collecting tests, performing injection appointments, IVs, changing linen, organizing medical nutrition, preparing surgical instruments, filling out medical documents.

The nurse carries out medical procedures, monitors the well-being of patients, distributes medications, observing their dosage prescribed by the doctor, keeps records of medical equipment, controls the timing of technical inspection of medical equipment, and submits documents for registration.

The profession of a nurse is designed to make the doctor’s work easier, freeing up his time to receive patients and perform professional duties.

The nurse makes the doctor’s work easier, freeing up his time to see patients and perform professional duties.

Specializations of nurses

There are many specializations of professions:

• chief nurse supervises the work of all nurses, fulfills requests for the purchase of medicines, dressings, and other medical supplies, and also draws up a duty and vacation schedule for nurses, monitors the material and technical equipment of the hospital. She must have a diploma of higher medical education.
• Senior nurse assists the head of the department, is responsible for order in the department, supervises the nurses and aides subordinate to her.
• Junior nurse cares for patients and follows instructions from senior colleagues.
• Guard nurse Responsible for fulfilling doctor’s prescriptions, monitoring medications and visiting relatives.
• Charge nurse monitors the condition of patients in the wards of regular and intensive care, is responsible for compliance with bed rest, diet, measures blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate.
• Procedural nurse works in the treatment room, gives injections, IVs, medical procedures prescribed by the doctor (nebulizer, aspirator), collects tests and transfers them to the laboratory.
• Operating room nurse helps the surgeon before, during and after surgery: prepares instruments, assists during surgery, counts instruments and dressings used during the operation.
• Surgical nurse works in the surgical department, in the dressing room, makes dressings, removes sutures, assists the surgeon with minor surgical interventions (opening a boil, placing a catheter, drainage).
• Laboratory nurse accepts biological material and performs manipulations as directed by the doctor.
• Visiting nurse monitors the condition of the newborn after his discharge from the maternity hospital, monitors compliance with the schedule of vaccinations and examinations of the baby by specialized specialists.
• Gerontological nurse works in a nursing home, in the gerontology department of a medical organization, helps older people maintain their health, and follows doctor’s recommendations.
• School nurse(or preschool children's institution) monitors the condition of children, allows them to attend classes after an illness, conducts hardening measures, preventive examinations, performs vaccinations and medical tests, prescribes quarantine when infections are detected, gives an exemption from physical education or sports competitions for health reasons.

There are also nurses in specialized departments - physiotherapy, exercise therapy, dental and other offices.

The school nurse monitors the condition of children, conducts preventive examinations, performs vaccinations and medical tests.

Places of work

Nurses work in clinics and hospitals, in schools, kindergartens, sanatoriums, rest homes, hospices, maternity hospitals, military hospitals, places of detention and many other institutions.

History of the profession

The Sisters of Mercy trace their lineage back to the 11th century, when the first women's communities began to appear in Europe, based on monasteries, in which they cared for physically suffering patients. In the 13th century, the first shelter was opened, where orphans and abandoned children were cared for. Then the sisters of mercy began to help the wounded, and a little later took responsibility for those suffering from leprosy. Officially, the birth of the first community of sisters of mercy dates back to 1641 - then the first school was created to train women in this profession.

In Rus', sisters of mercy have been officially known since 1863, when the Ministry of War issued a decree on the creation of nursing care for the wounded on a permanent basis. Since 1997, nurses in Russia have received an official code of ethical standards for communicating with patients.

Sisters of mercy of the Omsk military hospital during the First World War. 1915

Responsibilities of a nurse

The main job responsibilities of a nurse are:

• Pre-hospital medical care.
• Patient care.
• Assisting doctors, sterilizing instruments.
• Collection of biological material for research.
• Execution of medical prescriptions.
• Management of junior medical staff.
• Disposal of medical waste.
• Records management.

Requirements for a nurse

The basic requirements for a nurse are as follows:

• Higher medical or secondary medical education, valid certificate in nursing.
• PC skills.
• Efficiency and politeness.

The responsibilities of the nurse include collecting biological material for research, as well as carrying out medical prescriptions.

How to become a nurse

To become a nurse you need:

1. Graduate from a university (faculty of higher nursing education) or a medical school/college with a degree in nursing.
2. Receive a certificate of independent activity along with your diploma.
3. To be eligible to work as a specialized nurse, you must complete advanced training courses.

Nurse salary

The range of income is wide: a nurse earns from 15,000 to 80,000 rubles per month. The profession is most in demand and paid in large cities and in the Far North (a vacancy for a nurse with a salary of 80,000 rubles per month was found in the Yamalo-Nenets District). Nurse work at home is paid by agreement.

The average salary of a nurse is about 27,000 rubles per month.

Where to get training

In addition to higher education, there are a number of short-term training on the market, usually lasting from a week to a year.

The Interregional Academy of Additional Professional Education (MADPO) trains in the “” specialization and issues diplomas and certificates.

Even doctors do not always know all the secrets of hospital life, which nurses have heard well about. That is why their opinion is worth hearing if you want to get the most information.

Sometimes it is worth consulting with different doctors

No one will say that the doctor is incompetent. However, sometimes the nurse may recommend that you consult someone else. Consider this a secret signal.

Gossip carefully

The hospital is not a fun place and you might want to chat with the nurse. But she has a long working day, and there is a chance that the most interesting gossip will be retold later to someone else.

Nurses may give more medicine than prescribed

When a patient is terminally ill, the doctor does not always prescribe enough pain medication. If a person is suffering, the nurse may give him more than prescribed.

Service depends on your attitude

Patients with incontinence should only be wiped with a cloth. If you are nice and polite, the nurse will do much more for you, but if you are rude, the service will be at the required minimum.

The nurse is supposed to remain calm

The nurse's calm tone does not mean anything - even if she is very excited, she will not show it.

You need to see a doctor on time

No one will directly blame you for delaying a visit to the doctor, but sometimes it is really stupid.

Don't lie about how much it hurts you

If you calmly use your phone and laugh until you notice the nurse, no one will believe that you really are unbearably ill.

Your life is in your hands

You must independently follow the doctor’s instructions, because mistakes are quite possible. It depends only on you how good the treatment will be.

A nurse's job is full of paperwork.

You can’t even imagine how many documents you have to fill out during the working day. The life of a nurse is not all about patients.

Hospitals are full of infections

Despite all efforts, hospitals are still quite dirty and full of drug-resistant infections.

Only seriously ill patients are admitted to the hospital

With mild symptoms, you will simply be sent on sick leave. Even if you are seriously ill, you will most likely be discharged before you have fully recovered.

Don't insult nurses

Those who really feel bad have no time to complain

Nurses know very well who is really unwell. The loudest and most dissatisfied patients are those who do not have any serious illnesses.

They will always smile at you

Any nurse tries to be as attentive as possible, even if you behave intrusively. However, she may complain to her colleagues, which will affect how you are treated in the future.

Name all the medications you took

Even if it was medicinal herbs or secretly purchased medications, which usually require a prescription. You should list everything to avoid complications when prescribing treatment.

Reality is different from TV series

What you see on screen happens completely differently in real life. In addition, nurses have much less free time.

A hospital is not a hotel

Yes, the food is not always appetizing, but you should understand that these are the conditions. For the same reason, relatives cannot be with you at any time.

The tests should be carried out by a doctor

Do not ask nurses about the results of your tests - all this should be discussed exclusively with your doctor.

There are conflicts between nurses

Sometimes they also conflict, interfere with each other and quarrel in front of patients. The thing is that this job causes too much stress.

It is difficult for a nurse to point out a mistake to a doctor

It can be difficult to watch a doctor make a mistake, but it is also difficult to object to him - you may receive not the most flattering comments in response.

Don't blame the nurse for everything

Sometimes nurses are unfairly accused even by doctors themselves. But not everything depends solely on them!

Patients should try to be friendly

If you like the nurse, show your gratitude - positive comments make you happy and are remembered for a long time.

Don't forget about the nurse

If you have been in the hospital for a long time, you can visit the nurse after you are discharged and thank her. It will be very nice for her.

Nurses believe in miracles

During the course of their work, everyone has experiences that cannot be called anything other than miraculous. People wake up from comas and recover in critical cases. You should never give up and stop believing in the best.

Working in a hospital is very exhausting.

There are physically demanding professions. Some are mentally exhausting. A nurse's job involves both. If you are not getting enough help, simply ask another nurse.

Demand attention to yourself

Many nurses and doctors only discuss test results during rounds. If you want your opinion to be listened to, pay attention to yourself.

Do not distract the nurse while preparing medications

In this matter, mistakes are unacceptable. Avoid distracting the nurse who is dispensing medications to avoid causing problems.

A good nurse knows how to give an injection the first time

If they can't get into your vein, call another nurse. Of course, inexperienced workers need practice, but you are not a guinea pig! The injection must be done the first time.

Don't stand the pain

If you feel pain, it is better to report it immediately. Mild discomfort is easier to eliminate than a critical condition.

Drink more water before your blood test

If you have a blood test, drink a few glasses of water. This will make your veins more visible, which means everything will be as comfortable as possible for everyone.

Don't hold your breath from the pain

Holding your breath only worsens the pain, so it’s better to try to breathe regularly.

Don't go to hospital in the summer

If you have a choice, do not go to the hospital in the summer - this is when new employees begin work, who may not be very experienced.

Doctors don't tell you everything

Not every doctor speaks directly; some will reassure you, even if the situation is critical.

Some doctors don't care about pain

Some perform painful procedures without pain relief or give too little medication.

All visitors must wash their hands

Constantly remind everyone who comes to you to wash their hands. This even applies to doctors!

Stay close to seriously ill relatives

It is always difficult for nurses to watch a terminally ill person suffer less from pain than from loneliness.

Little things matter to patients

Just wrap the patient in a warm blanket - comfort and attention are most important.

Sometimes nurses speak harshly to relatives

Family members must clearly understand what the patient needs, so they will be told about it as clearly as possible, even if the information is difficult.

Nurses may be more important than doctors

They are the ones who monitor your medication intake and your condition throughout the day!

Men should see a doctor more often

Listen to your wife who advises you to go to the hospital, don’t try to endure it - this is not at all a sign of masculinity.

If you don't understand something, ask

Ask for an explanation of any diagnosis that you do not understand.

Know what further treatment involves

Monitor the treatment process and ask detailed questions about what to do next.

Treatment can be unpredictable

Nurses face a wide variety of life situations, so they are used to giving advice.

Understand boundaries

You should not flirt with a nurse and ask her out on a date - this is unethical.

Keep a positive mood

Keeping your spirits high is very important for a quick recovery.

Give thanks

Giving thanks is not as difficult as it seems!

Don't hide bad habits

Do not underestimate your alcohol intake and do not hide bad habits, the doctor will find out about it anyway.

Don't make others wait

Don't distract the nurse with petty requests - someone might feel really bad.

Sometimes you are deceived

Nurses need white lies for your peace of mind.

Wet the patch

Finally, when removing the bandage, ask to wet the patch - this will make it come off much easier.

Every year hundreds of nurses study to become cosmetologists. After training with people with secondary medical education. education, there are three ways: get a job in a cosmetology clinic and work in conjunction with a doctor, open your own private practice, or get a job in a salon with a medical license and start working independently, without the participation of a cosmetologist. The third option – independent work of nurses in salons with a medical license – causes the most controversy. Let's take a closer look at it.

Nurse and esthetician rolled into one

If you strictly follow the letter of the law, then everything procedures In cosmetology, a nurse can perform only as prescribed by a doctor. And if so, then that’s it – no independent work.

On the other hand, if the nurse wants to provide household cosmetic services(and this is 70% of all cosmetology, for example, complex cleanings or hardware treatments), then no doctor is legally needed here. But to perform a full range of household services, only documents in nursing cosmetology are not enough - you need a diploma in cosmetology.

At the House of Russian Cosmetics, you can obtain cosmetology and cosmetology nurse certificates within the same course; in many other educational institutions you will have to study twice.

Therefore, the nurse has two legal options:

1. Work in conjunction with a doctor, carrying out his instructions (we will talk in detail about the nuances of this good career option in the next article).
2. In addition to “”, take courses and get the opportunity to perform all household services (this is 70% of the entire range of modern cosmetology). A person with a medical education in Russia is more trustworthy, so in the eyes of the client you will have an advantage over cosmetics without a medical education.

The dark side of the issue

In practice, independent work of nurses in salons with a medical license still exists. This happens when the role of the doctor in the salon is completely nominal. He is on the staff, but appears at work only to sign appointments that he did not make; and get paid.

As a result, the nurse is completely independent in her actions. And the client, if he is satisfied with the service, does not ask unnecessary questions.

But, before deciding on this employment option, evaluate the full extent of the responsibility that you may have to bear.

The consequences of medical procedures can be unpredictable. And they do not always depend on the actions of the physician. But if the client blames you for side effects, it will be difficult to hide the fact of “providing medical services without a doctor’s prescription” (unless the nominal doctor suddenly decides to take all the blame on himself).

Should we wait for change?

It is possible that changes are coming in the legal status and degree of independence of nurses in cosmetology. The Ministry of Health is currently developing a Professional Standard for Nursing. And, according to our information, it has a section dedicated specifically to nurses and cosmetologists. So in the foreseeable future, new clarifications and documents may appear regarding the functions of nursing staff in the beauty industry.

It is difficult to predict whether nurses will be given greater independent access to procedures or, on the contrary, will be completely “pushed” behind the backs of doctors.

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