- Provide professional nursing care and patient services across various inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings
- Promote health, prevent disease, and assist patients, families, and communities in managing illnesses and health conditions
- Act as a patient advocate and health educator throughout the care continuum
- Ensure adherence to hospital policies, nursing procedures, standards, and best practices
- Deliver safe, patient-centered care that improves patient outcomes and quality of life
- Support physicians and healthcare teams in treatment planning, examinations, and patient recovery
- Maintain confidentiality and accurate documentation of patient information and medical records
Objectives
Responsibilities
- Assess and monitor patients by observing, recording, and reporting symptoms, reactions, and progress
- Administer prescribed medications, treatments, and therapies according to care plans
- Perform patient intake including obtaining measurements, vital signs, and health histories
- Monitor patient vital signs regularly throughout shifts and document changes
- Prepare equipment and assist physicians during examinations, treatments, and procedures
- Apply sterile dressings, perform phlebotomy, and conduct wound and skin care
- Draw intravenous and peripheral blood for laboratory testing
- Administer and monitor IV medications and fluids
- Evaluate new and existing patients to determine priority and suitability of treatment
- Create and implement individualized care plans for assigned patients
- Educate patients and families about health conditions, treatments, and care plans
- Communicate patient updates and care information to physicians and healthcare staff
- Chart patient information and work with electronic health record software
- Maintain accurate and confidential patient records and documentation
- Manage patient pain and provide emotional support to patients and families
- Oversee and guide the work of other nursing and support staff as needed
- Perform specialized nursing procedures related to specific patient populations or departments
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Graduate of a nationally accredited nursing program (Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
- State of New Mexico Licensed Registered Nurse or current RN licensure from a state participating in the multistate privilege to practice compact with New Mexico, or licensure pending as documented by temporary licensure
- Eligibility to take or successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
- CPR Certification (must be obtained within 2 weeks of date of hire)
- Knowledge of nursing theory, practice, and clinical operations
- Knowledge of patient evaluation and triage procedures
- Understanding of appropriate procedures and standards for medication administration and patient care
- Ability to draw intravenous and peripheral blood
- Skill in preparing and maintaining patient records and documentation
- Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate individual patient care programs
- Strong communication skills to work effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams
- Empathy and ability to provide emotional support to patients from diverse backgrounds
- Multitasking and time management skills to manage multiple patients in fast-paced environments
- Ability to handle average-weight objects up to 25 pounds and stand/walk for more than four hours per day
- Compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement (for positions in patient care or clinical areas)
- Successful completion of post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree for increased leadership and advancement opportunities
- One to two years of critical care or bedside nursing experience
- IV Certification (may be required within 6 months of hire depending on department needs)
- Specialty certification in areas such as pediatrics, critical care, perioperative nursing, or medical-surgical nursing
- Experience in specific specialty areas such as emergency room, intensive care, operating room, or pediatrics
- Knowledge of accreditation and certification requirements and standards
- Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions on sensitive, confidential issues
- Experience with telehealth and medical applications for remote patient communication
- Familiarity with medical devices such as wearable monitoring devices, automated IV pumps, and smart beds
- Advanced training or graduate education for roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse educator
- Leadership experience or interest in supervisory roles such as charge nurse or nursing director
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What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care by assessing and monitoring patients, administering treatments and medications, educating individuals and communities about health conditions, and offering valuable advice and emotional support to patients and their families to promote health, prevent disease, and improve patient outcomes.
RNs work in a variety of healthcare settings beyond traditional hospitals, including physicians' offices, schools, corporate environments, nursing homes, and community health clinics. The versatility of nursing allows RNs to specialize in areas ranging from fast-paced emergency departments treating serious injuries to mental health units managing conditions like depression, or even providing virtual care as telehealth nurses.
RNs need a combination of clinical expertise and interpersonal abilities. Strong communication skills enable them to work effectively with diverse patient populations and healthcare teams, while empathy helps them provide compassionate care and build positive relationships with patients and families. Multitasking and time management are essential for managing multiple patients in fast-paced environments, and technical proficiency with electronic health records and medical devices ensures accurate documentation and safe patient care.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Registered Nurse?
The responsibilities of a registered nurse are to assess patients, administer medications and treatments, monitor vital signs, create care plans, educate patients, maintain documentation, and coordinate with healthcare teams to deliver comprehensive patient care.
Registered nurse duties include performing patient intake by obtaining measurements and health histories, administering prescribed medications while recording doses and timing, monitoring patient progress throughout shifts, preparing equipment and assisting physicians during examinations and procedures, and performing technical tasks such as phlebotomy, wound care, and IV medication management. RNs also maintain confidential patient records, chart information in electronic health systems, and communicate critical updates to physicians and healthcare staff.
Understanding these core responsibilities helps organizations identify candidates who can effectively manage the diverse demands of nursing roles, making it essential to ask relevant interview questions that assess both clinical competencies and the interpersonal skills needed to deliver exceptional patient care.
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