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Speaking of nurses, you often imagine women in white coats assisting the doctor and clearly following his instructions. Or young girls in treatment rooms taking blood for analysis.
But has anyone thought about why specialists with a secondary medical education are called sisters?
The concept of “sister”, and in the old days nurses were often called sisters of mercy, is used here in a spiritual, and not in a kindred context. Yes, and they appeared precisely thanks to the church.
What is the job of a nurse? What does this specialist do and what advantages and disadvantages exist in the work of such a noble and sacrificial profession?
A bit of history
For a long time, the duties of modern nurses were performed by students of doctors who, having learned, later became doctors. For the first time, the concept of a nurse arose around the eleventh century, when they began to be allocated to various communities and called sisters of mercy. Then their work extended only to women, but during the war they began to provide medical care to wounded men.
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, Countess Elisabeth of Thuringia opened the first hospital at her own expense. However, its primary purpose was not to provide medical assistance, but to provide shelter and care for the sick. The workers of such an institution began to be called “Elizabeth”, and later, when hospitals began to open throughout Europe – “hospital”.
Since 1617, the profession of a nurse begins to develop at a rapid pace. Now their duties include helping the wounded at the front, accompanying doctors in combat operations, and caring for the military. A little later, nurses begin to assist doctors during operations. This profession is becoming so popular and prestigious that many secular ladies strive to get there.
In the modern world, a nurse is an indispensable assistant to a doctor, and her range of duties has been significantly expanded.
Profession nurse – description
Since there are a large number of medical branches, the position of a nurse, as the chief assistant to a doctor, has a strict classification.
Chief nurse. This is a nurse with a medical education in the field of nursing management, who graduated from the relevant faculty.
Its main tasks are:
- distribution of duties among nurses and junior medical staff, control over their implementation;
- rationalization and organization of work;
- advanced training of junior and middle staff of a medical institution.
Head nurse. The main task is to assist the head of the department of a medical institution in administrative matters and in the economic part. It organizes and supervises the performance of the work of junior and middle medical personnel. Another important task of the head nurse is to supply her department with the necessary medicines and related materials.
Charge nurse. Another name is post nurse. She is assigned to some wards, where, strictly following the instructions of the attending physician, she takes care of the patients, monitors the change in their condition, organizes the necessary nutrition and monitors the implementation of all medical appointments.
Procedural nurse. The task of the nurse in the treatment room is to take blood from a vein for analysis, perform intravenous and intramuscular injections, set up droppers and help the doctor perform some manipulations that are subject only to him.
Operating room nurse. The main and main task of the operating nurse is to assist the surgeon during surgery, prepare instruments, underwear, dressings and suture material immediately before the operation.
District nurse. Provides assistance to the local therapist in the reception of patients. According to the doctor’s prescription, he conducts various medical procedures at home for patients assigned to the therapist by the site. In addition, the district nurse takes part in ongoing preventive measures.
Diet Nurse. Consists with a dietitian. Her responsibilities include organizing therapeutic nutrition, quality control of products, compiling a dietary menu. regularly checks the sanitary condition of the dining room and kitchen where the sick are served, and also supervises the preparation of food and its distribution.
A nurse who works with doctors of narrow specialties. Such a nurse can be found at the appointment of an otolaryngologist, dentist, ophthalmologist and other doctors.
Junior Nurse. The duties of this employee include only caring for the sick. Carrying out various manipulations lies in the competence of other medical personnel.
Responsibilities of a nurse
A nurse is an indispensable assistant for both doctors and patients. At work, she has to deal with the sick every day, calm them down and care for them.
The nurse’s responsibilities also include:
- knowledge of the basics of first aid;
- performing intravenous and intramuscular injections;
- setting droppers, measuring pressure and temperature;
- taking tests;
- providing patient care;
- preparation of patients for various procedures and operations;
- issuing certificates, prescriptions, referrals, maintaining documentation;
- monitoring the intake of medications by patients;
- carrying out medical and preventive procedures prescribed by the doctor.
In fact, this profession has a much larger list of activities, which depends on the specialization of the nurse and the position she holds. But her most important duty is to care for and help the sick.
Advantages and disadvantages of the profession
Of course, first of all, when choosing the profession of a nurse, there should be a desire to help people. But it is also worth knowing about some of the pitfalls that you may encounter in the process.
A nurse should always be in a good mood and a pleasant mood. Heavy night duty, troubles in personal life should not cause dissatisfaction of patients with staff. She must strictly follow the instructions of the doctor and know everything that happens in his office or department. Conflicts with patients are always on her conscience and are considered a defect of the nurse. Her duty is to prevent the development of conflict situations and their prevention.
Composure and organization are the main rule of a nurse. After all, negligence in such a profession can lead to serious and unpredictable consequences.
In addition to emotional stress, a nurse, like other employees of a medical institution, always has a risk of contracting dangerous and serious diseases from patients.
Where can you learn nursing?
You can get this education in a special medical school. But at present, some universities offer nurses to improve their qualifications, which makes it possible to grow up to a head or head nurse, or become a teacher in a medical school.
Many nurses further develop their skills by taking additional medical training. Previously accumulated experience in nursing is especially helpful in this case.
The prospect for the development of this profession is the position of a head nurse, and after graduating from an educational institution, career growth to the head nurse of a department or the entire medical institution.
In conclusion
The profession of a nurse is quite in demand in the modern world. There is work for a qualified and certified specialist in any medical institution or in private medical practice. However, one should be aware of a busy schedule, high dedication and an increased risk of contracting any disease.