Job description Registered Nurse (R.N.) in the Halifax Region

Find out what work is like for a registered nurse (R.N.) in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301).

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

Description

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, community agencies, companies, private homes and public and private organizations or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • General duty registered nurses
  • Assess patients to identify appropriate nursing interventions
  • Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
  • Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by a physician or according to established policies and protocols
  • Monitor, assess, address, document and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions
  • Operate or monitor medical apparatus or equipment
  • Assist in surgery and other medical procedures
  • May supervise licensed practical nurses and other nursing staff
  • May develop and implement discharge planning process on admission of patients
  • May teach and counsel patients and their families on health-related issues in collaboration with other health care providers.
  • Occupational health nurses
  • Develop and implement employee health education programs and provide registered nursing care in private businesses and industry.
  • Community health nurses
  • Provide health education and registered nursing care in public health units and through home visits, manage complex home care cases, participate in community needs assessment and program development, conduct disease screening and deliver immunization programs.
  • Registered psychiatric nurses
  • Provide nursing care, supportive counselling and life skills programming to patients in psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, long-term care facilities and community-based settings.
  • Nursing researchers and consultants
  • Engaged in research activities related to nursing, as self-employed or as employed by hospitals, public and private organizations and governments
  • Provide consultative services to institutes, associations and health care organizations regarding issues and concerns relevant to the nursing profession and nursing practice.
  • Clinical nurses
  • Provide leadership, advice and counsel on the provision of research-based care for specific patient groups within the care of particular health care organizations.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 31301), and a list of similar occupations:

  • clinical nurse
  • community health nurse
  • critical care nurse
  • emergency care nurse
  • intensive care nurse
  • nurse researcher
  • nursing consultant
  • occupational health nurse
  • private duty nurse
  • public health nurse
  • registered nurse (R.N.)
  • registered psychiatric nurse (R.P.N.)

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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