Hands-on care is probably the most recognizable activity of nurses. It can also be one of the most difficult to master at nursing school. Nursing students are assigned duties which help them learn how to deal gently with patients. They must learn how to clean up after the patient, care for the patient physically, monitor symptoms, take temperatures and manage intravenous lines. This must be carried out with care and excellence and with an eye for safety and the patient's well-being.
Nursing students also practice and gain experience learning how to maintain records and communicate with doctors. Nurses must know how to track a patient's pain levels and translate this into written and oral communication. They need to know how to track and properly administer medication to patients, how to schedule procedures and how to keep all of this information organized. They must also learn how to interpret records and to explain to doctors the content of these records.
In addition to learning to communicate with doctors, nursing students must learn how to educate patients and family members. Their duties as nurses will include explaining illnesses, disease management and educating family members and patients about related health issues. Nursing students must prepare for job duties such as explaining home health care and teaching patients about the methods of self-administering medication at home.
Supporting patients is perhaps the most delicate of duties learned at nursing school. Students should learn how to provide emotional support and stability for those they care for. They will have to be sensitive to patients and their children, parents, spouses and other family members and learn how to deliver news factually but still compassionately. Nursing students must develop emotional strength to properly serve their patients.