Registered Nurse: Job Description And Recruitment Essay Samples

Nurses are core to the healthcare sector and constitute the largest percentage of healthcare providers (Chen, 2015). Their job involves: giving and coordinating patient care, educating patients about health disorders, and providing patients and their relatives the emotional support they need. Description and recruitment for a nursing job involves: laying out the tasks, tools of work, and skills and abilities; advertisement and assessment of the most suitable candidates then follows.
Nurses have several tasks they are required to fulfill. Firstly, a nurse should acquire the relevant medical history of patients (Usajobs.gov, 2015). Secondly, he/she should carry out physical examination of patients (Usajobs.gov, 2015). Thirdly, on the basis of age and history, a nurse should perform preventive screening processes. Fourthly, he/she is to have the health assessment status updated to establish whether a patient will require further healthcare. Fifthly, he/she develops suitable medical diagnosis depending on the data acquired (Usajobs.gov, 2015). Sixthly, he/she orders and makes interpretations of the right diagnosis and laboratory tests. Seventhly, he/she prescribes the appropriate therapeutic agents. Eighthly, the nurse gives the required education to the patient and his/her family (Usajobs.gov, 2015). Ninthly, he/she consults with other healthcare professionals in cases of diagnostic doubts, lack of improvement, and when specialized diagnosis or treatment is required (Usajobs.gov, 2015). Lastly, nurses are also required to perform other tasks as required in various situations.
A registered nurse is required to have several tools and technology in his/her profession. A stethoscope is needed for blood pressure and several other checks (Nursingworld.org, 2015). They are also required to have to have uniforms, mostly scrubs having many pockets for various tools. Comfortable shoes are also required. A watch is vital for calculation of pulse rate, and other signs. It should be waterproof because of the needed frequent hand washing. Nurses also nee penlight for examining pupils, a blood pressure cuff, scissors specially made for cutting bandages, and a gait belt for assisting patients to walk (Nursingworld.org, 2015). Differently colored pens are also needed because there are charts to be filled in differently colored ink. A calculator, drug handbook, physician’s desk reference, and electronic calendar are also required (Nursingworld.org, 2015).
For entry level positions, the knowledge of the job is mainly from classroom learning and solid experience in hospitals. Hospitals supervise nursing students during their practical block where they rotate departments like surgery, maternity, and pediatrics. Thorough knowledge of the following subjects in nursing is paramount: Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Behavioral Sciences, Nutrition, Microbiology, Psychology, and Nursing (Nursingworld.org, 2015).
One method of assessment of qualified candidates for a nursing job is a face to face interview. This method is valuable because it enables effective evaluation of the candidate’s knowledge, working experience, and interpersonal skills (Youssef, 2012). Medical and fitness assessments are also used to evaluate qualified candidates for nursing jobs. As aforementioned, nursing involves a lot of physical activities like transfer of patients, hence a need to ensure that they can fulfill their job requirements. Testing is also used in assessment of nursing job candidates (Youssef, 2012). Nurses require strong cognitive skills such are in remembering patient conditions, and comprehension and application of therapeutic knowledge hence cognitive ability tests are of vital importance. Physical ability tests may also be done due to the great need for physical activities. For instance, they can be used to avoid injuries when suturing.
In conclusion, the description of a nursing job entails giving tasks and responsibilities, tools needed, educational requirements, and the skills and abilities needed. Advertisement of the job may be done through the use of career websites and the use of national newspapers. Assessment of the qualified candidates may be done through face to face interviews, health and fitness examination, and cognitive ability tests. In addition to the processes discussed in the recruitment of nurses, there will still be a need for newer and more efficient methods to ensure that the best candidates are recruited in efforts to improve healthcare services in this dynamic world.

References

CAREEREALISM,. (2013). 9 Nursing Skills Every Practitioner Should Possess | CAREEREALISM. Retrieved 29 January 2015, from http://www.careerealism.com/nursing-skills-practitioner/
Chen, P. (2015). Giving Nurses a Leading Role in the Future of Health Care. Nytimes.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/health/views/18chen.html?_r=0
Nursingworld.org,. (2015). How to Become a Nurse. Retrieved 29 January 2015, from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing/Tools-You-Need/RegisteredNurseLicensing.html
Usajobs.gov,. (2015). USAJOBS - Search Jobs. Retrieved 29 January 2015, from https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/392733800
Youssef, C. (2012). Human resource management. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.