At times, we have agency nurses that do not have access to our computer and we have to access the medications for them. This involves working as a team with dieticians, social workers, home care nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Because of health care reform, early discharge is always the goal, and all members of the team have to be consulted in these decisions. As bedside nurses, we are responsible for bathing and mobilizing clients, administering medications, changing dressings, providing emotional support, and a great deal of teaching, i.e. how to walk on crutches. The most satisfying aspect of nursing is seeing a client come into hospital acutely ill and be discharged a completely well person.
Nursing is an extremely stressful occupation.
There is constant change, continuous inservices and new drugs to learn about. There are additional responsibilities added each and every day. Because of health care reform, nurses find their workloads are so great they are usually unable to care for their clients the way they would like to. Another downside is shift work which is often physically taxing but may work well for someone who has small children. In a hospital setting, there is usually a mixture of community college diploma Registered Nurses and nurses with their Bachelor of Nursing.