Nurses
Did you know there are many different types of nurses? Nurses are
so important to the medical profession that some specialize in
one area of medicine - such as Orthopaedics or Pediatrics.
Nurses go to school for years to learn about biology, anatomy,
mental health, hygiene, medicine, and hundreds of other related
things. When school is over they must pass a test to become a
Registered Nurse (RN), a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), or a
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Nurses are known to care a lot
about people who are sick. That is why nurses are sometimes called
"angels of mercy."
Many nurses continue their education to learn more about an area
of medicine they like. They become a specialist in a particular
subject. Maybe there is a subject in school that you spend more
time learning about because you enjoy it. Nurses are no different.
Here is a partial list of different types of nurses and examples of where they work. Maybe you
have met one of these nurses.
Pediatric Nurse
* Doctor's offices
* Clinics
* Hospitals
* Home health
Orthopaedic Nurse
* Doctor's offices
* Clinics
* Hospitals
* Home health
Operating Room Nurse
* Hospital operating rooms
* Outpatient surgery centers
Nurse Educator
* Schools
* Universities
* Colleges
* Businesses
Office Nurse
* Doctor's offices
* Clinics
* Medical centers
Emergency Room Nurse
* Emergency room at a hospital
* Urgent care centers
Industrial Nurse
* Manufacturing companies
* Construction sites
Community Health Nurse
* Health departments
* Schools
* HMO's (insurance companies)
* Prisons
* Camps
* Clinics
* Homes
Gerontological Nurse
* Nursing homes
* Hospitals
* Doctor's offices
* Wherever older people need special care
Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse
* Hospitals
* Therapy centers
* Wherever people need help recovering from a heart problem
Anesthesiology Nurse
* Operating rooms
... And the list goes on - As you can see from this short list,
there are many types of nurses who work in a variety of settings.
Nurses have many duties. They carry out the orders doctors give
for patient care, plan patient treatment, monitor vital signs,
read patient charts and reports, give medicine, keep a written
record of each patient's progress, and hundreds (probably thousands!)
of other important tasks. Nurses also help patients cope with
pain, fear, anxiety, and grief. Some nurses supervise other nurses
and hospital workers that make up a health care team.
Doctors often have nurses explain things to patients and parents
in simpler terms. Nurses are a great resource for questions about
your condition. If scheduled for any tests, procedures or surgery,
the nurse will teach you about each step and help prepare you
for treatment. Being a nurse can be a rewarding, challenging,
and exciting profession.
