A clinical nurse is a registered nurse that provides inpatient care at hospitals or health care facilities. Clinic nurses have a wide range of knowledge in equipment and instruments that are used in the performance of their duty. Clinic nurses are responsible for assisting the doctor in providing patient care, which includes the preparation of the equipment that the physician needs to use. Clinic nurses also deliver prescribed medications, ensure that the patient takes it on time and they will treat patients as outlined by the physician.
Clinical nurses conduct intake procedures of the patient entering the hospital or healthcare facility. This procedure involves the assessment of the injury or symptoms. They also need to learn the past medical problem of the patient and other pertinent facts that the doctor or physician needs to identify in order to treat the patient.
It is the responsibility of the clinic nurses as well to observe and monitor each patient that are under their care, which involves doing timely visits to each patient and recording their observations. They are the healthcare professionals that most patients have direct contact with several times a day. Clinic nurses are well aware of the patients’ conditions and can answer any question involving their patients’ conditions. If there’s a problem or concern found by the clinic nurse, it is imperative that they will need to report these findings to the doctor.
Cleaning and maintain the perfect condition of the instruments, as well as maintaining the sanitary condition is also one of the top priorities of clinic nurses. Clinic nurses are also the first and last person to communicate with the patients or doctors. This communication is imperative for the diagnosis and treatment of the patients. Along with all of these duties being performed by clinical nurses, they are also allowed to answer patient questions either in person or over the phone.
Furthermore, clinic nurses manage a day-to-day operation of the healthcare clinic, maintain health records, document patients’ information and update the patient profile. They also check equipment supplies for restocking if needed, check emergency kits and ensure the confidentiality during visits. They provide primary care for eligible students, faculty and staff health concerns during scheduled health service hours. They also distribute non-prescription medication after appropriate assessment and encourage health maintenance and promotion through counseling and awareness activities. Clinical nurses may also take initial and interim history and vital signs of patients and assist physicians during examinations if needed.
Clinic nurses perform a number of task and they are highly recognized and respected for their hard work and dedication in their job. After all, clinic nurses play an important part in changing and saving the lives of their patients.