ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF NURSES

Caregiver

Encompasses activities that assist the client physically and psychologically while preserving the dignity of the client.

Caregiver

ex. monitor vital signs, administers meds, change wound dressings

Communicator

Communicates the identified problem of the client to other health care team.

Communicator

ex. clearly sharing information and listening to patients, families, and health care team members.

Teacher

Nurse teaches client about their health and procedures they need to perform to restore their health.

Teacher

ex. health teaching, follow a healthy diet, how to inject insulin to self

Client Advocate

Acts to protect the client and assists clients in exercising their rights and help them speak for themselves.

ex. explains the procedure to the client if the client doesn't ubderstand the procedure.

Client Advocate

ex. explains the procedure to the client if the client doesn't ubderstand the procedure.

Counselor

Nurse provides emotional, intellectual and psychological support.

Counselor

ex. listens to a newly diagnosed cancer patient's fears, provide reassurance, encourage patient to express feelings

Change Agent

Nurse assists clients to make modification in their behavior.

Change Agent

ex. a nurse introduce a hand hygiene program in the hospital and educates staff about proper handwashing to reduce cross-contamination and spread of infection.

Leader

Influences others to work together to accomplish a specific goal

Leader

ex. charger nurse assigns patients to staff nurses, delegates tasks, coordinates with other healthcare professionals, and ensures that patient care is delivered.

key: people and vision

Manager

Nurse plans, give direction, develop staffs, monitor operation, give rewards fairly, and represents both staff members and administration as needed.

ex. assigns staff to patients, manages the unit's supplies, creates work schedule, and monitors tge quality of patient care.

key: tasks and resources

Manager

ex. assigns staff to patients, manages the unit's supplies, creates work schedule, and monitors tge quality of patient care.

key: tasks and resources

Case Manager

Works with multidisciplinary health care team to measure the effectiveness of the case management plan and monitor outcomes

Case Manager

ex. coordinates with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare team members to create a care plan, arrange referrals, and ensures the patients receive continous care from admission to discharge.

key: overall care of the patient

Researcher

Nurse participates in scientific investigation and uses research findings to improve client care.

ex. nurse may conduct a study on whether a new patient education method improves medication adherence

Researcher

ex. nurse may conduct a study on whether a new patient education method improves medication adherence

Collaborator

Nurse works in combined effort with all those involved in care delivery.

Collaborator

ex. collaborates with the health care team members to develop and implement a patient's care plan.

key: teamwork and shared decision-making