Registered 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. 

Example Titles

• Clinical nurse
• Community health nurse
• Critical care nurse
• Graduate nurse
• Intensive care nurse
• Nurse researcher
• Nursing consultant
• Occupational health nurse
• Registered nurse (R.N.)
• Extended practice nurse
• Advanced practice nurse

Duties 

• Assess patients to identify appropriate nursing interventions
• Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, co-ordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
• Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by a physician or according to establish policies and protocols
• Monitor, assess, address, document and report symptoms and changes in patient's condition
• Operate or monitor medical apparatus or equipment
• Assist in surgery and other medical procedures
• May supervise other members of the health care team
• 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.
• Nursing consultants provide consultative services to institutes, associations and health care organizations regarding issues and concerns relevant to the nursing profession and nursing practice.
• Nursing researchers engaged in research activities related to nursing are self-employed or are employed by hospitals, public and private organizations and governments.
• 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.
• Extended practice nurses independently prescribe medications, order and manager results of screening and diagnostic tests, and perform minor surgical and invasive procedures.