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What does a Staff Nurse do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

A staff nurse is a registered nurse who works in a hospital or other medical facility. They are responsible for the care of patients, and they may also be responsible for supervising other nurses and support staff.

Staff Nurse job duties include:

  • Assessing and planning nursing care requirements
  • Providing pre- and post-operation care
  • Monitoring and administering medication and intravenous infusions
  • Taking patient samples, pulses, temperatures and blood pressures
  • Writing records
  • Supervising junior staff
  • Organising workloads
  • Keeping up to date with changes in policy and practice
  • Liaising with doctors and other health professionals

Staff Nurse Job Requirements

Most staff nurse positions require at least an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN), although some employers may prefer or require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In addition to education, most states also require nurses to be licensed and to have completed a certain amount of clinical experience. Some employers may also require certification in a specialty area, such as critical care or oncology.

Staff Nurse Skills

  • Patient care
  • Nursing process
  • Communication
  • Documentation
  • Critical thinking
  • Assessment
  • Planning
  • Implementation
  • Evaluation
  • Supervision
  • Leadership

Related: Top Staff Nurse Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Staff Nurse

There are many ways to become a staff nurse. One way is to attend a nursing school and obtain a degree in nursing. Another way is to attend a hospital-based training program. Some hospitals offer staff nurse positions to individuals who have completed a certain number of years of training in another field, such as medical assistant or Licensed Practical Nurse.

The most common way to become a staff nurse is to have a degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school and to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Once you have your degree and license, you can apply for open staff nurse positions at hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities.

To be successful as a staff nurse, you will need to be able to work well under pressure, have excellent communication skills, and be able to multitask. You will also need to be able to work with patients of all ages and backgrounds and be comfortable working with different types of medical equipment.

Related: Staff Nurse Resume Example

Related: Staff Nurse Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

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Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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