The Many Roles of the Registered Nurse

Book excerpt: Nurses are the largest population of healthcare providers practicing in both urban and remote areas across the globe. Currently, the nursing profession is in the midst of a significant shortage as aging baby boomers retire and a nursing faculty shortage forces many colleges and universities to turn away qualified applicants. As healthcare needs of the population become more complex and technologies advance, our world needs nurses now more than at any other time in history. This book provides the reader with a wide overview of the many vast roles within the nursing profession, showing that the responsibilities are complex, challenging and rewarding. It will allow the reader to understand the current job market for nurses and perhaps even persuade some to choose this rewarding profession.