They may also insure that records are maintained and that equipment and supplies are ordered. At the advanced level, nurse practitioners provide basic health care. They diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications in some States. Other advanced practice nurses include clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse-midwives.
Most nurses work in well-lighted, comfortable medical facilities.
Home health and public health nurses travel to patients' homes and to schools, community centers, and other sites. Nurses may spend considerable time walking and standing. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. Because patients in hospitals and nursing homes require 24-hour care, nurses in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may also be on-call.