FUNCTIONS OF A PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Independet Independent nursing interventions (also referred to in my book as nurse-

initiated) are the autonomous actions of the nurse, and based on the nursing diagnoses
and client-centered goals.
* include:
-physical care -teaching
-ongoing assessment -counseling
-emotional support & comfort
-environmental management
-making referrals to other health care professionals
Dependent interventions require the order of a physician. (Referred to in the
book as physician-initiated.)

Interdependent interventions are the result of multi-disciplinary collaboration or

consultation. (Book calls them collaborative.)
Example of collaborative interventions:
The physician orders physical therapy to teach the client crutch-walking. The nurse
would be responsible for informing the physical therapy department and for
coordinating the client's care to include the physical therapy sessions. When the client
returned to the nursing unit, the nurse would assist with crutch-walking and collaborate
with the physical therapist to evaluate the client's progress.

FUNCTIONS OF A PROFESSIONAL NURSE

Nurses are expected to perform a variety of roles in health care institutions whenever cares are
provided to the clients. They may be carried out simultaneously depending on the need of the client
in a particular situation and case.

a. Caregiver
As a caregiver, nurses are expected to assist the clients physical, psychological, developmental,
cultural and spiritual needs. It involves a full care to a completely dependent client, partial care for
the partially dependent client and supportive-educative care, in order to attain the highest possible
level of health and wellness.

b. Communicator

Communication is very important in nursing roles. It is vital to establish nurse-client relationship.

Nurses who communicate effectively gets better information about the clients problem either from
the client itself or from his family. With better information nurses will be able to identify and
implement better interventions and or nursing care that promotes fast recovery, health and wellness.

c. Teacher

Being a teacher is an important role for a nurse. It is her duty to give health education to the clients,
families and community. However, the nurse must be able to assess the knowledge level, learning
needs and readiness of the clients, families and community to give appropriate and necessary health
care education e.g. diseases, health, wellness, nursing care procedure, etc. they need to do to restore
and maintain their health.

d. Client Advocate

A nurse may act as an advocator. An advocator is the one who expresses and defends the cause of
another or acts as representative. Some people who are ill maybe too weak to do on his own and or
even to know his rights to health care. In this instance, the nurse may convey is clients wish like
change of physician, change of food, upgrade his room or even to refuse a particular type of
treatment.

e. Counselor

A nurse may act as a Counselor. She provides emotional. Intellectual and psychological support. She
helps a client to recognize with stressful psychological or social problems, to develop and improved
interpersonal relationship and to promote personal growth.

f. Change Agent
As a change agent, oftentimes a nurse change or modify nursing care plan based on her assessment
on the clients health condition. This change and modification will only happen when the
intervention/s does not help and improve a clients health e.g. caring of the pressure ulcer, change in
medication, change of food, etc.

g. Leader

Nurse often assumes the role of leader. Not all nurses have the ability and capacity to become a
leader. It takes confidence, initiative and ability to innovate change, motivate, facilitate and mentor
others. As a leader it allows you to participate in and guide teams that assess the effectiveness of
care, implement-based practices, and construct process improvement strategies. You may hold a
variety of positions like shift team leader, chairperson of a professional organization, ward in-charge,
board of directors, sister, matron, etc.

h. Manager

As a Manager, a nurse has the authority, power, and responsibility for planning, organizing,
coordinating and directing work of others. She is responsible for setting goals, make decisions, and
solve problems that the organization may encounter. It is also her responsibility to supervise and
evaluate the performance of her subordinates. The manager always ensures that nursing care for
individuals, families and communities are met.

i. Case Manager

In some hospitals, a case manager is a primary nurse who provides direct care to the client or family.
For example a case manager for diabetic client. She has the responsibility to give health education,
measure the effectiveness of the nursing care plan and monitor the outcomes of intervention whether
effective or not.

j. Research Consumer

Nurses often do research to improve nursing care, define and expand nursing knowledge. In a clinical
area nurses need to:
 Have some awareness of the process and language of research

Be sensitive to issues related to protecting the rights of human subjects

Participate in identification of significant researchable problems

Be a discriminating consumer of research findings

Expanded role of the nurse

1. Clinical Specialists

Is a nurse who has completed a masters degree in specialty and has considerable clinical
expertise in that specialty. She provides expert care to individuals, participates in educating
health care professionals and ancillary, acts as a clinical consultant and participates in
research.

2. Nurse Practitioner

Is a nurse who has completed either as certificate program or a masters degree in a specialty
and is also certified by the appropriate specialty organization. She is skilled at making nursing
assessments, performing P. E., counseling, teaching and treating minor and self- limiting
illness.

3. Nurse-midwife

A nurse who has completed a program in midwifery; provides prenatal and postnatal care and
delivers babies to woman with uncomplicated pregnancies.

4. Nurse anesthetist

A nurse who completed the course of study in an anesthesia school and carries out pre-
operative status of clients.

5. Nurse Educator

A nurse usually with advanced degree, who beaches in clinical or educational settings, teaches
theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and conduct research.
6. Nurse Entrepreneur

A nurse who has an advanced degree, and manages health-related business.

7. Nurse administrator

A nurse who functions at various levels of management in health settings; responsible for the
management and administration of resources and personnel involved in giving patient care.