Nurses are an important part of the health care team as they play a major role in the rehabilitation of patients. In most cases they are the ones providing most of the direct care that is given to patients. The duties that are conducted by a nurse will heavily depend on the position that they hold, however there are some basic roles that nurses play and these are discussed below.

Provide Care for the Patient

Nurses are first and foremost responsible for caring for the patients that are assigned to them. They are responsible for ensuring that the patient is getting enough rest, sleep, food and drink and that the patient is comfortable. They are also responsible for removing waste fluids from those patients that are not able to journey to the toilet. In some cases, nurses may have to bath the patient and do their best to ensure that the patient is suffering from the least amount of pain.

Work With the Doctor

Nurses are also required to work closely with the surgeon or doctor in the administering of treatment to the patient. So in the case of a surgery, the surgeon will be the one to perform the surgery but the nurse will be needed to get things in order. The nurse may therefore have to give injections, administer pain killers, set up the intravenous line so as to administer drugs and change the dressing. In addition, even though the surgeon or the doctor will be the one authorizing the treatment, in most cases it's the nurses that administers the treatment and closely monitors the patient after the surgery the surgeon or the doctor with information on the patients progress.

Team Work

The nurse will have to work closely with the team of persons overseeing the patient to ensure that full recovery takes place. As a result, they are required to work with the assigned doctors, physiotherapists, other nurses and other members of the team that may be attending to the patient as needed. Teach the Patient

Even though in most cases the surgeons and therapists will provide the patient with advice, it will be the responsibility of the nurse to ensure that the patient has a clear understanding of what they are required to do in order to fully recover and move on with their lives in the quickest time possible. As a result the nurse is normally the one to reinforce the steps required for healing to the patient and provide the family along with the patient with advice as to how to go about things like, nutrition, exercise and resting. Confidence

Persons tend to be very vulnerable when in the hospital and in most cases the nurses around them will be required to guide the patient and provide reassurance. This normally results in patients developing an emotional bond with the nurses to whom they will greatly depend on for support. In cases like these a nurse may be required to act as an advisor, teacher, confidant or even a friend. It is in times like these that one realizes not just how rewarding the role of a nurse is but also how important to an individual well being it is.