About This Career

Assesses patient health problems and needs, develops and implements nursing care plans, and maintains medical records. Administers nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Records patients' medical information and vital signs.
• Administers medications to patients and monitors patients for reactions or side effects.
• Maintains accurate, detailed reports and records.
• Monitors, records, and reports symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
• Provides health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
• Consults and coordinates with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
• Directs or supervises less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervises a particular unit.
• Monitors all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
• Instructs individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
• Modifies patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work