A typical nursing shift can look different from day to day. One day, a nurse may help a patient with a minor injury, and the next, they may be caring for a patient with a serious illness. While patient needs and priorities can change quickly, a day in the life of a BSN-prepared nurse usually involves patient care, communication, and coordination. In this article, we鈥檒l explain what a nursing shift may look like and the benefits of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
What Happens in a Day in the Life of a BSN-Prepared Nurse?
Working as a registered nurse (RN) means no 2 days are ever the same. But while the days can vary, many nurses complete similar tasks from one shift to the next. Here are some common threads in a day in the life of a BSN-prepared nurse:
Prepare for the Shift
Nursing shifts often begin with a handoff. During this time, nurses from the previous shift 鈥渉and off鈥� information to incoming nurses about patients鈥� diagnoses, conditions, and treatments.
After the handoff, an RN can use this information to loosely plan their day. They may review physician orders, plan medications, or look up additional information about patients.
Provide Patient Care
Patient care takes up a large part of an RN鈥檚 typical shift. This direct care may look different depending on a nurse鈥檚 workplace or clinical specialty, but an often include:
- Assessing patients and monitoring changes in conditions
- Recording patients鈥� vital signs
- Administering medications and treatments at prescribed intervals
- Bathing or toileting patients and helping them with mobility
- Assisting doctors with diagnostic tests
- Checking and operating medical equipment
The duties of a BSN nurse may also include additional tasks, like changing or dressing wounds, checking IV lines, or doing blood draws. While nurses may need to follow a set schedule for tasks like medication administration, other urgent needs may pop up suddenly and require immediate attention. Nurses use their organizational and multitasking skills to manage those tasks throughout the day.
Respond to Emergencies
Medical emergencies can happen more frequently in some settings than others, but nurses need to be prepared to respond to urgent situations. In an emergency room, for example, a patient鈥檚 condition may change in a matter of seconds. RNs are responsible for assessing patients, communicating with providers, and making decisions quickly.
国产主播鈥揟exas alumna Savanna S., who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, says staying calm in high-pressure situations can make all the difference. 鈥淵es, it鈥檚 scary having a person鈥檚 life in your hands,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 here, and I have the knowledge and information I need to help them.鈥�
Communicate With Patients and Families
Nurses often spend direct time with patients and their families. A big part of their job is educating patients on how to follow treatment plans and stay healthy, even after leaving a healthcare facility.
For example, an RN may discharge hospital patients who are ready to go home. Before discharge, an RN may go over the patient鈥檚 medications, explain how to continue care at home, and remind them about any follow-up appointments.
Many times, nurses also provide emotional support to patients and family members going through difficult diagnoses or treatments. With compassion and empathy, RNs can listen to patients and offer words of encouragement. For some nurses, it鈥檚 one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
鈥淚 love helping my patients,鈥� said WCU-Los Angeles BSN graduate Shelby L., who now works in a hospital. 鈥淚 love when a patient comes to me when they get their test back saying they鈥檙e in remission. That is the most rewarding thing I鈥檝e ever felt in my life.鈥�
Where Do BSN-Prepared Nurses Work?
Registered nurses commonly , but they can also be employed at nursing homes, residential care facilities, and ambulatory settings, such as outpatient centers and doctor鈥檚 offices. Depending on where they work, their duties can look slightly different from day to day.
Hospitals
In hospitals, RNs often care for patients who are very sick or have serious medical needs. Nurses work in different hospital units, like medical-surgical, intensive care, neurology, and oncology. They overnights, weekends, or holidays to provide round-the-clock care.
Clinics
Clinic nurses provide care in outpatient settings. During a typical shift, they may record patients鈥� health histories, check vital signs, assist with procedures, or educate patients about continuing care. These nurses often work a more traditional schedule with 8-hour shifts during the week.
Specialized Care Facilities
In specialized care settings, such as rehabilitation centers or long-term care facilities, RNs work with specific patients, sometimes on an ongoing basis. They help patients manage medications and treatments. In facilities providing 24-hour care, such as , nursing shifts may include overnights, weekends, and holidays.
Benefits of Getting a BSN
Getting a BSN may be a big commitment, but it can offer additional benefits for your nursing career. In a BSN program, you鈥檒l complete comprehensive clinical training and take upper-level coursework in various topics, such as theoretical nursing, ethics, pathophysiology, and public health.
Some employers because of this additional training and coursework. It can also make you eligible for leadership roles, such as clinical nurse manager.
Beyond those career benefits, earning a BSN can set you up for graduate education down the road. If you鈥檙e interested in getting a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), some programs may require you to have a BSN.
For many nurses, a BSN is the first step in a long and fulfilling career. WCU alumna Dr. Nune Stepanyan graduated with a BSN before going on to pursue an MSN and then a Doctor of Nursing Practice. She now owns an aesthetic medicine clinic in Los Angeles.
鈥淚 chose the path to obtain multiple advanced degrees to get me to where I am today,鈥� Dr. Stepanyan said. 鈥淲CU is where I obtained my bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, FNP, and doctoral degrees, and without the backing of this solid education I received, I鈥檓 not sure I would be the successful female entrepreneur I am today.鈥�
Work Toward Your BSN at 国产主播
A day in the life of a BSN-prepared nurse usually includes preparation, patient care, and ongoing communication. Nurses may work in different settings, but they share a similar goal: to provide exceptional care to the patients they serve.
If you鈥檙e interested in nursing, getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can help prepare you for this field. At 国产主播, the BSN program blends classroom learning with technologically advanced simulation labs, real-world clinical experience, and personalized support. Offered at 5 campuses, WCU鈥檚 BSN program can help you prepare to sit for the nursing licensure exam in as little as 39 months at the Accelerated program pace. Want to learn more about WCU鈥檚 BSN program? Reach out to schedule an information session
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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