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Job Profile: Registered Nurse

• Legal nurse consultants assist lawyers in medical cases by interviewing patients and witnesses, organizing medical records, determining damages and costs, locating evidence, and educating lawyers about medical issues.

• Nurse administrators supervise nursing staff, establish work schedules and budgets, and maintain medical supply inventories.

• Nurse educators teach student nurses and also provide continuing education for RNs.

• Nurse informaticists collect, store and analyze nursing data in order to improve efficiency, reduce risk and improve patient care.

RNs also may work as healthcare consultants, public policy advisors, pharmaceutical and medical supply researchers and salespersons, and medical writers and editors.

Working Conditions

Most RNs work in well-lighted, comfortable healthcare facilities. Home health and public health nurses travel to patients’ homes, schools, community centers and other sites. RNs may spend considerable time walking and standing. Patients in hospitals and nursing care facilities require 24-hour care; consequently, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends and holidays. RNs also may be on call – available to work on short notice. Nurses who work in office settings are more likely to work regular business hours. About 23 percent of RNs worked part-time in 2004, and 7 percent held more than one job.

Nursing has its hazards, especially in hospitals, nursing care facilities and clinics, where nurses may care for individuals with infectious diseases. RNs must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers, such as those posed by radiation, accidental needle sticks, chemicals used to sterilize instruments and anesthetics. In addition, they are vulnerable to back injury when moving patients, shocks from electrical equipment and hazards posed by compressed gases. RNs who work with critically ill patients also may suffer emotional strain from observing patient suffering and from close personal contact with patients’ families.

Employment

As the largest healthcare occupation, registered nurses held about 2.4 million jobs in 2004. About three out of five jobs were in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient departments. Others worked in offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, employment services, government agencies and outpatient care centers. The remainder worked mostly in social assistance agencies and educational services, public and private. About one in four RNs worked part- time.