Importance of Nursing: Roles Beyond Patient Care

Nurses are defined by their ability to provide patients with personalized care at critical moments in their lives. Whether caring for a patient who is chronically ill or a mother about to welcome her first child into the world, nurses are responsible for ensuring that their patients receive compassionate and precise medical care.

However, within most nursing roles, responsibilities often extend beyond delivering bedside care. Nurses play a pivotal part in advocating for the needs of their patients as well as providing patients and their caregivers with the emotional support they need at that time.

Why Nurses Are Important

Nurses are essential to the success of the healthcare system — ensuring that patients receive safe, high-quality care in a nurturing and supportive environment. The American Nurses Association (ANA) notes that nursing is more than just a profession but rather a practice that requires individuals to blend the art and science of caring to promote the highest level of care. More specifically, nurses are important because:

• They assess and evaluate patients, assuming a central role in determining the diagnosis and required treatment plan.
• They advocate for the needs of their patients so they may receive the personalized care that they need.
• They serve as a bridge between the patient and physician, often working to preserve the patient’s dignity and advocate for their preferences.
• They provide emotional support for patients and their families or caregivers, ensuring that families have access to necessary information and resources.
• They are available and accessible to patients at all levels of healthcare for a variety of needs.

Three Ways Nurses Aid Patients

The duties and job responsibilities of a nurse vary based on their individual position and the patient population they care for. Some may work to take the vital signs and triage patients in the emergency room, while others may evaluate and assess pediatric patients in the office setting. Regardless of where they work and the type of patients that they care for, almost all nurses are called to care for their patients in contexts other than bedside care.

Nurses are able to aid patients and provide them with the best possible experience by:

Advocating for Patients

Relying on their nursing expertise and clinical experience, nurses can develop a unique understanding of patients’ physical needs. In addition, they have the opportunity to form close connections with their patients, which enables them to better understand their social, emotional or even spiritual needs. In turn, nurses are in the prime position to advocate for the needs of their patients, ultimately ensuring they receive timely and personalized care that leads to improved outcomes.

According to Indeed, a few ways that nurses can work to actively advocate for the needs of patients include:

• Listen to patients’ concerns, take note of their preferences and be sure to relay that information to the physicians on the care team.
• Protect the rights of patients and ensure that providers and caregivers are aware of their preferences.
• Help patients access resources they need in order to achieve the best possible health outcomes.

Spending Time With Patients

Even in an era when they are experiencing high patient caseloads alongside low staffing levels, nurses are called to spend quality time with their patients. For instance, some patients in hospital settings are lonely or isolated, leaving them particularly vulnerable both physically and emotionally. Other patients receiving care in clinical settings may be stressed, concerned and overwhelmed by the experience.

By simply spending a few extra moments with their patients, nurses can make a difference in their lives. It’s during these one-on-one moments that nurses can develop a better understanding of patient needs — allowing them to work to personalize their care plan and provide the safe, quality care that patients both require and deserve.

Educating Patients About Illness and Care

In addition to being caregivers, nurses are often looked to as educators. They must provide patients with accurate and relevant information to recover fully or prevent further complications from arising. Beyond administering treatment for immediate needs, nurses also promote the importance of preventative healthcare, with education playing a crucial role in effectively implementing preventative care plans.

The Role of Nurses With Families

Due to the nature of their position, nurses frequently play an active part with families and caregivers. These professionals are often the first point of contact for families and caregivers in the clinical setting, requiring effective informative communication with loved ones while still protecting the privacy and dignity of their patients. It can be a tricky balance to strike, so nurses need to understand their unique role in this dynamic.

Nurses often work with families by:

Consoling Loved Ones

Whether a patient has just received a life-altering diagnosis or has recently passed away, nurses may wind up in positions where they have to console grieving and worried loved ones. According to research published in the Heart & Lung academic journal, nurses need to look beyond their own intuition and use strategic communication practices in order to comfort friends and family of patients. While they should be compassionate, personable and empathetic, they need to maintain a sense of professionalism and keep critical boundaries in place. Nurses may console family members by lending a listening ear, giving them space to share their emotions and offering practical guidance.

Informing Patients’ Family

Relatedly, nurses sometimes have to deliver challenging information to family members — such as news of a diagnosis, information about the patient’s preferences or, tragically, that a loved one has passed away. When informing patients’ family or loved ones with this type of information, it’s important for nurses to remain professional and provide all relevant information as calmly and succinctly as possible. If family members become difficult to communicate with, they should contact a nurse supervisor to assist them.

Nursing Roles Beyond Patients and Their Families

The nursing profession requires a significant commitment of time, physical energy and emotional capacity. Recognizing that they may often have to go beyond the call of duty, aspiring nurses should be aware of the commitments outside of their professional responsibilities. Depending on the nursing role you pursue, the following may encompass additional implications of this career path:

Working Long Hours and Holidays

Depending on their work environment, nurses may not be able to work within regular business hours. According to the ANA, most nurses work in shifts, particularly if employed in hospital settings. Nurses who work in office settings may enjoy more traditional hours — though they may still be required to work holidays and weekends on occasion.

The most common shifts for nurses include:

• 12-Hour shifts — The 12-hour shift is the most common shift at hospitals, with nurses working either from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. This shift allows for better continuity of care for patients who are currently in the hospital, but it can be a physically and mentally exhausting shift for nurses.
• 10-Hour shifts — The 10-hour shift is common in both hospitals and office settings, which means nurses end up working about four days per week. It blends the routine of a traditional workweek with the benefits of the longer shift, making it an appealing option for many nurses.
• 8-Hour shifts — The 8-hour shift is more common in office settings, and nurses who have an 8-hour shift typically work five days per week. It’s an ideal shift for nurses who need a more traditional schedule.

Making a Difference Each Day

Nursing can be a challenging profession, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding calling. On any given day, nurses have the distinct ability to have a positive impact on people’s lives. From offering patients simple comforts (like an extra blanket or their favorite beverage) to ensuring they receive prompt care, nurses make a big difference every day. Even on the harder days, most nurses are able to push on knowing their patients need them and that their work is appreciated.

Sacrificing Time From Their Own Family

Due to the nature of working in hospital environments and other clinical settings, nurses often must work long hours, and they may spend much of their time off work resting and recovering. As a result, nurses sometimes have to sacrifice time away from their family members and loved ones to prioritize patients. That’s why nurses are encouraged to find a healthy sense of work-life balance that allows them to feel fulfilled in both their professional and personal lives.

Directing Doctors and Hospital Workers

Nurses are indispensable to a healthcare team and often called upon to direct doctors and hospital workers to ensure that patient needs are addressed and their preferences adhered to throughout their treatment. In other words, they can function as leaders in clinical settings, which can be rewarding.

Start Your Journey in Nursing Today

The role of nurses often extends beyond providing patients with the medical care they most immediately need; many nurses go above and beyond to ensure that the physical, social and emotional needs of their patients have been met. Thus, many nurses consider their profession more of a calling than a career. Nursing roles attract passionate individuals who truly feel called to serve.

At Bryant & Stratton College, we offer a wide range of nursing degree programs. You have the opportunity to choose from the practical nursing diploma, the associate degree in nursing (ADN) or the online RN to BSN program — so you can pursue an educational path that aligns with your career goals.

Request more information about our nursing degree programs today, and learn more about the importance of nursing in the current healthcare landscape.