5 Ways Nurse Duties Have Evolved

Health care is the most rapidly expanding field, and those who inhabit professions within the field will never experience recession. For many years, duties of nurses have evolved, as they are now taking on more and more responsibilities. While disease prevention and health promotion remain priorities for nurses, they are also taking up new responsibilities for the welfare of their patients. 

Over the last few decades, the practice of nursing has changed beyond recognition. The evolution of their practices and importance, has also seen change.

Working in collaboration

Nurses are no longer solely responsible for caring for the sick and wounded, as they are publishing scientific research, giving TED talks, developing medical mobile applications, actively addressing patient’s health care issues and much more. They are working in association with their colleagues, public safety personnel, social workers, hospital administrators and oncologists. The medical field is vast, and they are trying to help people deal with different medical conditions in the most effective manner.

Related:  Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP)

Advanced Technology

The advent of technology has had a huge impact on the profession. A shift has been observed in how patient records are maintained, how care is provided to them, and the way medications are ordered and tracked.  While some nurses are not comfortable using the computer, internet, or a smartphone, new nurses are well-versed in the latest technologies. It is important that any individuals working in the profession are accustomed to digital data implementation and retrieval.

Rise of Nurse Practitioners

The nursing profession is quickly becoming a broader field as nurses nowadays have greater opportunities in pursuing a specialization. The real opportunity for a nurse lies in mastering multifaceted complex issues that have great impact on the nation’s health care system. Nurses will not only consider a patient’s symptoms, but also utilize the health care database in the cloud to examine disease trends.

Related: International Nurses Association

More Independent

Previously nurses would live in the hospital they worked at, receiving on-site training. Nursing has also been predominantly a female profession, but that has also changed. Now nurses are given much more independence, and have more mobility than ever. They are not expected to be dressed in a cap, skirt, and stockings, however there is still the need to wear a uniform. 

More Transparency

The nursing profession has become more complex than ever,  yet its transparency is becoming the best feature of health care. Now, the patients have access to all the information because nurses can be specific about the information being shared. Previously, doctors and nurses were not ready to share even the simplest detail, like blood pressure.  This is no longer the case.

Over the years a lot have changed, yet nurses remain on the front lines of patient care. While new technology cannot preclude traditional care, nurses are nowadays more open to creative options informing treatment regimens. Nurse’s remains open to learning throughout their career and remain consistently occupied with the betterment of their patients.

Related: The International Nurses Association Launches Nurse Advisor Magazine’s New Online Forum

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