Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Nurse

🎯 Role Definition

As a Nurse (Registered Nurse, RN), you provide direct patient-centered clinical care across inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and specialty settings. You perform comprehensive nursing assessments, implement evidence-based care plans, administer medications and therapies, coordinate multidisciplinary care, document care in the electronic medical record (EMR), and act as a patient and family advocate while maintaining compliance with regulatory and safety standards (HIPAA, Joint Commission, CMS). This role requires clinical judgment, strong communication, and the ability to prioritize care in fast-paced environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) transitioning to RN after completion of an ADN/BSN and licensure.
Recent nursing school graduate (ADN/BSN) obtaining first RN role in med-surg, telemetry, or emergency department.
Military medic or corpsman transitioning to civilian RN roles after state licensure.

Advancement To:

Charge Nurse / Nurse Lead
Clinical Nurse Specialist / Nurse Practitioner (with advanced degree)
Nurse Manager / Unit Manager
Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Telemetry Nurse
Oncology/Infusion Nurse
Ambulatory Care Nurse
Home Health or Hospice Nurse

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct thorough physical assessments and health history interviews on admission, during shift changes, and as patient condition changes; synthesize findings into accurate nursing diagnoses and individualized care plans documented in the EMR (Epic, Cerner, or equivalent).
Administer medications and IV therapies safely and accurately, including oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, continuous infusions, and IV push medications; perform medication reconciliation at transitions of care and document administration per hospital policy.
Perform wound assessment and advanced wound care, including dressing changes, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) management, and staging and documentation of pressure injuries according to facility protocols.
Monitor and interpret telemetry and cardiac rhythms, respond to arrhythmias, and collaborate with cardiology for emergent interventions as needed.
Initiate and maintain peripheral and central intravenous access (PICC/central line care), manage infusion pumps, and troubleshoot IV therapy complications while following strict infection prevention and CLABSI prevention bundles.
Provide triage, rapid assessment, and stabilization in emergency and urgent care settings, including initial management of trauma, respiratory distress, chest pain, sepsis, and other time-sensitive conditions.
Coordinate and lead multidisciplinary bedside rounds with physicians, social workers, pharmacists, therapists, and case managers to ensure timely care planning, disposition, and discharge readiness.
Educate patients and family members on diagnoses, medications, self-care procedures, wound care, disease prevention, and follow-up plans; create teach-back documentation to confirm comprehension.
Participate in safe and effective medication reconciliation at admission, transfer, and discharge to reduce medication errors and support patient safety initiatives.
Perform specimen collection (blood cultures, arterial blood gases, swabs), point-of-care testing (glucose), and prepare patients for diagnostic procedures (labs, imaging) while ensuring appropriate consent and specimen labeling.
Lead evidence-based nursing interventions for pain management, including assessment using validated scales, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies, and documentation of outcomes.
Implement fall prevention strategies including risk assessment, hourly rounding, patient ambulation assistance, bed and chair alarms, and documentation of fall-risk interventions.
Respond to code blue and rapid response team activations as a core team member, performing ACLS/BLS interventions, chest compressions, medication administration during resuscitation, and post-arrest care.
Manage complex post-operative care: pain control, drain and wound management, hemodynamic monitoring, early mobilization, and collaboration with surgical teams for complication prevention and early detection.
Execute evidence-based infection control and isolation precautions, including PPE adherence, hand hygiene audits, and education to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and comply with Joint Commission standards.
Conduct comprehensive discharge planning and care transitions: complete discharge summaries, coordinate home health or outpatient services, provide prescriptions and follow-up instructions, and ensure clear communication between inpatient and outpatient teams.
Utilize electronic health record systems for complete, timely, and accurate documentation of assessments, interventions, care plans, vitals, medication administration records (MAR), and clinical notes to support quality metrics and billing requirements.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives and unit-based performance improvement projects to improve patient throughput, reduce readmissions, and advance patient satisfaction and safety metrics.
Advocate for patients’ rights and preferences, escalate clinical concerns to the appropriate provider, and support ethical decision-making and patient-centered care.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of clinical protocols, hospital policies, and regulatory requirements; attend mandatory training, competency validations, and nursing education sessions.
Perform safe patient handling and mobility assistance using appropriate lifts and devices, reducing staff and patient injury while promoting early ambulation and rehabilitation.
Assess and address psychosocial needs, coordinate mental health referrals, and provide compassionate counseling and crisis intervention when necessary.
Support specialty clinic workflows including infusion therapy setup, chemotherapy administration protocols (when certified), and coordination of specialty consults and labs.

Secondary Functions

Precept and mentor newly hired nurses and nursing students; provide constructive feedback and support competency development.
Participate in unit-based committees (safety, infection control, wound care, fall prevention) and contribute to policy and protocol development.
Assist with supply and inventory management, ensure availability of specialty equipment, and coordinate with supply chain for clinical needs.
Support telehealth and remote monitoring workflows, including virtual patient assessments and documentation of telehealth encounters.
Contribute to community outreach, health screenings, and patient education programs to promote population health and preventive care.
Assist in data collection for clinical research studies, quality metrics reporting, and performance dashboards that support accreditation and regulatory inspections.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in good standing (state-specific).
Medication administration and intravenous (IV) therapy: IV insertion, IV pump management, and central line care.
Proficient in electronic medical records (EMR) systems such as Epic, Cerner, Meditech, or Allscripts; accurate MAR and documentation practices.
Cardiac monitoring and telemetry interpretation; EKG rhythm recognition and basic arrhythmia management.
Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and basic life support (BLS) certification; pediatric advanced life support (PALS) where applicable.
Wound care and dressing application, knowledge of pressure injury staging and wound treatment modalities.
Triage and emergency assessment skills for rapid identification of deteriorating patients and escalation per protocol.
Sterile technique, catheter insertion and maintenance, Foley catheter care, and urinary specimen collection.
Competency in pain assessment tools and multimodal pain management strategies.
Infection prevention competencies: isolation precautions, hand hygiene, and CLABSI/CAUTI prevention bundles.
Venipuncture and phlebotomy, blood culture collection, and laboratory specimen handling.
Patient education and discharge planning documentation with teach-back competency.
Familiarity with quality improvement methodologies (PDSA, root cause analysis) and safety reporting systems.

Soft Skills

Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking under pressure.
Excellent verbal and written communication with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
Empathy, compassion, and patient advocacy.
Time management and prioritization in high-acuity, fast-paced environments.
Teamwork and collaboration across clinical and non-clinical departments.
Adaptability to changing protocols, patient volumes, and emergent situations.
Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills with patients, families, and colleagues.
Attention to detail and accuracy in medication administration and documentation.
Cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse patient populations.
Professionalism, integrity, and commitment to patient safety and ethical practice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing plus successful completion of NCLEX-RN and current state RN licensure.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for advanced practice or leadership tracks.
Specialty certifications as applicable (e.g., CCRN, OCN, CNOR, CPN) and current BLS/ACLS/PALS certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Nursing (ADN, BSN, MSN)
Clinical Healthcare or Allied Health programs
Public Health, Health Sciences, or Nursing Education

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

Entry-level: 0–2 years (new grads, residency programs)
Experienced: 2–5+ years in acute care, med-surg, telemetry, emergency, or specialty units

Preferred:

2+ years of clinical nursing experience in the relevant specialty (e.g., ICU, ED, med-surg, oncology)
Demonstrated experience with electronic health records, multidisciplinary rounds, and quality improvement projects