As a leader in your organization, you need to make recommendations and decisions about staffing. That means learning about the range of responsibilities for many fields—a challenging task. To help you improve your understanding of nursing roles and responsibilities, we compiled a list of nursing roles and job titles most healthcare systems look for when hiring.1
- Registered nurses (RNs) assist physicians in hospitals and in a variety of medical setting.2, 3 They perform multiple tasks related to patient care, case management and treatment planning.4 It’s no surprise that RNs rank first on this list of nursing specialties because they can specialize in several areas, including many of the ones listed below.
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) perform a variety of tasks under the supervision of an RN or doctor.5, 6 They administer medicine, check vital signs and give injections. Becoming an LPN is a great way for someone to enter the world of nursing before choosing a specialty.7
- Nurse case managers coordinate long-term care for patients in hopes of keeping them healthy and out of the hospital. They can choose to specialize in treating people with diseases, like cancer, or can choose to work with a specific age group, such as geriatrics. People who enjoy research, coordination and scheduling are well suited to become nurse case managers.
- Home health nurses care for patients in the comfort of their own homes.8 Often, these patients are in geriatric care or are young people with developmental or mobility issues. This is an ideal position for someone looking to work outside of a traditional hospital setting but still enjoys working directly with patients.
- Nurse managers oversee the nurses on the floor who care for patients.9 They wear many hats and handle a lot of administrative duties. Sometimes called nurse supervisors, they are often responsible for recruitment and retention of nurses, as well as occasionally collaborating with doctors on patient care and assisting families in need. This is a great option for those hoping to step away from direct patient care after gaining some experience in the field.
Nursing Credentials and Degrees
The School of Nursing at Rasmussen University offers diploma, certificate and degree programs for nurses at every level—from those who are preparing for NCLEX® licensure exams to those who are ready to earn a doctorate. The school has over 8,500 nursing students, 19,500 nursing alumni and 600 nursing faculty.10 Faculty members constantly strive to give students the support, training and knowledge they need to flourish in their nursing careers.
1 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/types-of-nurses-employers-are-looking-to-hire/
2 https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00
3 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/where-do-registered-nurses-work/
4 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/what-does-a-registered-nurse-do/
5 https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2061.00
6 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/what-does-an-lpn-do/
7 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/how-to-become-lpn/
8 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/becoming-a-home-health-nurse/
9 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/blog/how-to-become-a-nurse-manager/
10 As of July 14, 2021, Rasmussen University had 8,524 students enrolled in School of Nursing programs. As of June 30, 2021, Rasmussen University had 19,539 nursing alumni. This number represents the total number of those who graduated from a School of Nursing program between March 20, 2006, and June 30, 2021. For the spring quarter of 2021 (April – June), Rasmussen University had 603 full-time and adjunct nursing faculty.