A nurse plays several roles in a multidisciplinary healthcare setting. The nurse is the
facilitator of care, counselor, and patient advocate. The main interlinked role of a nurse is
assessment, co-ordination, technical, communication, physical care, and emotional support. The
nurse acts as a communicator and should collaborate with other professionals to effectively carry
out procedures and treatments to the patient. The nurse plays a role of holistic care giver by
assessing the cultural, spiritual, and social needs of the patient (Masters, 2018). The nurse acts
with empathy and is expected to demonstrate cultural competence and sensitivity to unique
patient needs. A nurse has a role of instructor and trains patients on how they will carry out own
daily checkups such as monitor their blood pressure or book appointments with a physician using
their smart phones. A nurse can still work as a specialist in a multidisciplinary team since those
with advanced training are tasked with treating and monitoring patients with acute conditions
such as obesity and kidney disease (Masters, 2018). A nurse can play the role of a researcher by
gathering data and information on how the health facility can implement best practices in
treatment of patients.
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Conclusion and recommendations
Recent social, technological, and cultural changes impact on the role of a registered
nurse. The main duties that registered nurses perform include conducting physical exams on
patients, recording the patient’s medical history, and creating an effective patient care timetable.
The professional is expected to operate machinery, educate patients regarding their health,
perform diagnostic tests, and provide advice to the patients on the available treatment options.
Registered nurses are expected to assess the physiological, economic, and social factors that can
influence the recovery of patients. In addition, registered nurses diagnose both physical
symptoms and patient behavior which form the basis of accurate assessment.
It is recommendable for registered nurses to enroll for higher degree education in order to
improve their competence in handling emerging medical cases. The nurses should operate within
their competence and collaborate effectively with others in a multidisciplinary team.