What does a Staff Nurse do?
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.
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