Registered Nurses (RNs) are considered the backbone of health
care, caring for patients in almost all health care settings.
They are often responsible for the total care of patients, in
preventing and detecting illness, managing care for acute
illnesses, assisting patients and families in recovery and
rehabilitation, and assisting patients and families manage
chronic illness and death. RNs work with patients at the
beginning and end of life, and at many stages in between. RNs
have close contact with patients and their families and can make
an enormous impact on their lives. RNs may work independently or
in collaboration with other health care professionals such as
physicians to manage the care of patients. RNs implement the
physicians' orders, as well as implementing nursing care plans
to assist patients to prevent illness, manage illness and
restore them to their highest possible levels. The entry-level
hospital position for a RN is staff nurse. Staff nurses assess
patient conditions throughout their hospita