The importance of nurses to healthcare and the lives of others

Nurses are the backbone of any healthcare industry,and they are an essential part of a patient’s healthcare journey. Nursing is not just a compassionate profession, but a lot of dedication and skill goes into making it a successful one. It has to constantly change and evolve to meet the needs of society. Nurses are indispensable in society, whether they aremaking an accurate diagnosis in clinical settings or educating the general public about the best health practices. They work tirelessly to provide care to anyone in need of it.

Why are nurses important to healthcare industry?

Nurses are critical to the healthcare industry for several reasons. Firstly, they are frontline caregivers as they spend the most time with patients, monitor their conditions and provide compassionate care. Nurses can impact the healthcare industry by working in various settings, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, home care, nursing homes, hospices and community care.

Secondly, nurses are highly skilled and trained with a broad knowledge of clinical practices,and can identify and respond to any complication such as administering medication and providing basic wound care.

Thirdly, nurses are one of the main sources of emotional support for patients and their families. They help in coping with any stress or anxiety related to illness.

Lastly, nurses are also excellent advocates for their patients by ensuring that their requirements and wishes are respected. Nurses ensure that patients receive adequate care and support while protecting their rights.

In essence, nurses are vital for the seamless working of the healthcare industry. Their contributions are important for providing care to patients, and without nurses, the whole system would collapse.

The role of nurses in the healthcare industry

The role of nurses in the healthcare industry has never been more critical than now. With the growing population, the industry has a shortage of qualified nurses. Despite being one of the largest professions, the nursing shortfall is difficult to overcome because of the increasing population and the number of individuals requiring care and aid. Nurses play a large role in providing care to individuals in need and in administrative roles in healthcare.

With a changing healthcare industry and demands, the landscape of the nursing profession has evolved significantly. The demand for nurses is ever-increasing, and nurses can find employment even after a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree are best suited to becoming patient advocates and care providers. Nurses with specialized degrees and certifications, such as a DNP or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), can take up advanced roles in the healthcare industry. Nurses are the lynchpins between the doctors and patients that keep the whole system running smoothly. In the healthcare industry, nurses can play many different roles.

Although nurses have become indispensable to the healthcare industry, it has taken decades of lobbying and organizing to be recognized and respected in the medical community. In earlier times, nurses were just treated as the personal assistants of the doctors they were working with. After decades of lobbying for change, and rigorous academic training, the nurses have gained greater levels of respect, responsibility and independence. Nurses have more recognition and autonomy in society and a collaborative relationship with other medical professionals, including doctors and physicians.

Nurses are now an integral part of healthcare. They play an important role within a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and others to provide comprehensive patient care. To understand why nurses are so vital tothe healthcare industry, it is important to look at their responsibilities within it.

Spending time with patients

Nurses spend time with patients by taking their medical history, uncovering important health information and discussing the treatment suggested by the doctor. In a hospital setting, nurses spend a lot more time with patients as they are the primary caregivers.

Patient advocacy

Nurses are also patient advocates and provide them with valuable insights about their requirements, behaviors, habits and other concerns. Patient advocacy is one of the most important roles of nurses in the healthcare industry. It can involve interacting with patients’families to corroborate patients’ medical history, discuss patients’concerns over the ineffectiveness of a medication, or even coordinate patient care with another doctor or provider.

Educating the community

Educating the community is an important aspect of nursing. Generally, there is a low level of literacy among the populace regarding healthcare and best health practices. Nurses can help in improving health literacy as doctors may not be able to communicate effectively with the general public as they are more likely to be using complex medical jargon. Nurses spend a lot of time educating patients and their families about the best health practices. It can help them understand the treatment, their medications, side effects, and even the significance of proper nutrition and hygiene in maintaining good health.

Monitoring patients’ healthcare

The roles of nurses in healthcare cannot be complete without counting their role in monitoring patients’ health. While it is physicians and doctors who check on the patients, it is nurses who continually monitor their conditions. Among other things, they administer medication and track patients’ vital signs. In addition, while assessing patients, they make a note of their reason for visits, current medications, and other parameters in medical records. Nurses spend considerable time completing patient records and communicating the relevant information to the care team.

Performing tasks independently

Compared to previous decades, nurses have greater autonomy, especially in a hospital setting where theyare usually the first to discover any problem with the patient. They notify the physician while stabilizing the patient. Nurses need to have a thorough understanding of their practice so that they can be effective while performing tasks independently.

Healthcare research

Nurses play a critical role in healthcare research, carrying out independent studies and collecting relevant data to work on the best practices for patient care and for improving patient outcomes. They also study the effectiveness of different treatments and interventions, which can help in developing new treatment approaches.

Serving as leaders in healthcare organizations

Nurses can serve as leaders in healthcare organizations, overseeing teams of healthcare professionals and implementing policies and procedures to improve patient care.

Taking a holistic approach to patient care

Nurses take a holistic approach to patient care, recognizing that physical, emotional and spiritual health are interconnected. They assess patients’ physical symptoms as well as their emotional and spiritual wellbeing and provide care that addresses all aspects of their health. This holistic approach can help patients to feel more comfortable and supported throughout their treatment.

Coordinating care among healthcare professionals

Nurses are often responsible for coordinating care among multiple healthcare professionals, including physicians, physical therapists and social workers. They ensure that patients receive comprehensive care and that all aspects of their treatment plan are communicated effectively among team members. This coordination helps to ensure that patients receive the most effective care possible.

Preventing and controlling diseases

Nurses not only take care of patients after they are unwell, but they also play a critical role in preventing and controlling diseases by providing health education, identifying infection sources, notifying concerned authorities, and supervising other healthcare professionals.

Informatics and telehealth

Beyond traditional bedside patient care, nurses’ roles are evolving into new fields such as informatics and telehealth. Informatics combines nursing with information and technology science to incorporate digital data into nursing practice. Telehealth delivers nursing through the use of technology. It makes healthcare more accessible to all without any restrictions because of geolocation or availability of time.

What is it that nurses do?

Nursing is a varied field withmultiple responsibilities. There is no well-defined answer or a specific list of tasks that are performed by nurses. After completing extensive education and internships, nurses work with patients, their families, communities, and anyone who needs assistance. The common factor in every nursing role is the skill and drive required to fulfill all the duties. Nurses are the best in their field and can take care of the patient’swellbeing by monitoring them. There are different types of nurses who can be classified based on their education and training, such as registered nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), to name a few.

Nursing is like a mix of art and science where one needs not only to be competent in specific sciences but also needs to understand their patients, their cultures and values. It isthe right balance of heart and mind, where at its heart lies compassion and intuition while the mind supports through rigorous and extensive learning.

For some, compassion and advocacy for others come naturally. Adaptability, communication, dependability, time management and problemsolving are some other soft skills that are essential for anyone pursuing the nursing profession. These individuals can utilize their inherent skills for nursing and get a formal education through accelerated online programs from top universities such as Marymount University. An accelerated BSN program can help in changing the field through a bridge program, thereby making a fast-track transition to nursing opportunities.

How do nurses make adifference in the lives of patients and their families?

Nurses play a critical role in improving the lives of patients and their families in many ways. Here are some examples of how nurses make a difference:

Emotional support

Nurses provide emotional support to patients and their families during times of stress and uncertainty. They listen to their concerns, offer words of encouragement and provide a comforting presence. They also help patients and their families to cope with their conditions and, if they are feeling bleak about their situation, provide a sense of optimism and hope.

Improve communication

Nurses help to improve communication between patients and their families and other members of the healthcare team. They explain medical procedures, treatment options and test results in a way that is easy to understand. Nurses are skilled communicators, and they can easily bridge the gap between the patients and the rest of the medical community, ensuring that the patients receive the best care at the appropriate time.

Ensure safe and effective care

Nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients receive safe and effective care. They monitor vital signs, administer medications and provide wound care, among other things, to ensure that patients are receiving the appropriate care for their conditions. Nurses are also trained to identify and respond to potential complications, helping to prevent adverse events as a resultof any treatment or intervention.

Coordinate care

Nurses work closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the care at the appropriate time. They coordinate any required tests, procedures and treatments to ensure that patients receive comprehensive and well-rounded care. Nurses can help patients streamline the whole care process and simplify it so that there are no chances of errors or delays.

Help patients manage their conditions

Nurses help in providing education to patients and their families about their conditions, treatment options and self-care. They help patients to manage their conditions and maintain their health over the long term.

Speak up for their patients

Nurses serve as advocates for their patients, ensuring that their wishes are respected and that they receive the care and support they need. They work to ensure that patients receive the best possible care and that their rights are protected. An open line of communication between the patients and nurses can ensure that the patient’s needs are fulfilled and that they are recovering well.

Overall, nurses make a significant difference in the lives of patients and their families by providing emotional support, improving communication, ensuring safety, coordinating care, educating patients and families, and becoming advocates for their patients. Their work is essential in providing high-quality, patient-centered care.

Wrapping up

To wrap up, nurses are indispensable members of the healthcare industry and play a vital role in improving the lives of patients and their families. Their skills, expertise, dedication and compassion are fundamental to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Beyond bedside patient care, nurses serve as coordinators, holistic healers, teachers, advocates, researchers and providers of emotional support.

They ensure that patients receive safe and effective care, coordinate with other healthcare professionals, and help patients manage their conditions and maintain their health. Theimpact of nurses extends beyond the clinical or hospital setting, as they provide a comforting presence in the community and improve communication with patients and their families. The healthcare industry cannot function without the tireless efforts of nurses, and their contributions are truly invaluable and irreplaceable.