For example, the nurse anesthetist specializes in giving anesthesia to patients undergoing surgery, the nurse midwife delivers babies, and the pediatric nurse practitioner assesses and treats children with a variety of health problems. Work Environment RNs work in a variety of settings. The majority work in hospitals as staff nurses assigned to the operating room, emergency room, maternity unit, intensive care unit, pediatric unit, psychiatric unit, or general care floors. Office nurses work in physicians' offices or health maintenance organizations screening patients, assisting the physician with examinations, providing patient teaching, and other nursing care duties. Nurses may also work in public health departments, community clinics, schools, retirement centers, home health agencies, or they may be hired to deliver nursing services in industrial settings.
Nurses generally work in well lighted, comfortable buildings.
Nurses need physical stamina because they spend most of their time walking and standing. Intellectual ability and emotional stability are important as they must cope with complex problems, emergencies, human suffering, and other stresses. Nurses must observe strict guidelines as they work with infectious diseases, chemicals, medications, electrical equipment, and compressed gases. Advancement Baccalaureate education is generally necessary to advance to supervisory or administrative positions in hospitals and for positions in public health or intensive care nursing. Most research, consulting, teaching, and clinical specializations require graduate degrees.