Registered Nurse

Registered nurses may work independently or as members of a health care team. Key roles include:

• providing direct nursing care
• assessing the needs of individuals, families, groups or communities throughout the lifespan
• planning, implementing, evaluating and documenting nursing care
• co-ordinating patient care
• health counselling and teaching
• managing and implementing patient care plans, leading and supervising nursing teams and advocating for clients.

In hospitals and other health care settings, these roles may include activities such as:

• co-ordinating and supervising the activities of multi-disciplinary teams responsible for planning and implementing patient care
• facilitating case management by co-ordinating health care
• observing, assessing and monitoring patient symptoms, and evaluating reactions and progress
• independently implementing nursing interventions as needed
• collaborating with other members of health care teams regarding patient treatments and examinations
• administering medications, injections and intravenous therapy
• preparing patients and assisting surgeons during operations
• assisting in childbirth, managing labour and caring for newborns and their families
• preventing or treating injuries or illness, and managing chronic diseases 
• educating patients about health care
• managing nursing services
• leading and participating in research activities.

Registered nurses may specialize in providing a particular type of care (for example, emergency or trauma care or critical care) or in working with a particular type of patient (for example, working with children or with individuals who have heart disease).

Increasingly, nurses are employed in community and workplace settings as well as traditional health care settings. For more information, see the Community Health Nurse and Occupational Health Nurse profiles.

For information about nursing duties specific to psychiatric units and facilities, see the Psychiatric Nurse occupational profile.

Nursing can be intellectually, physically and emotionally demanding. Nurses often are exposed to infectious diseases and chemicals. In acute care settings, they work with very sick patients. They routinely handle items that weigh up to 20 kilograms and help lift patients.

In institutional settings, nurses work shifts that include nights, weekends and holidays.

Registered nurses need the following characteristics:

• problem solving and critical thinking skills
• effective verbal and written communication skills
• organizational skills
• good judgment and the ability to make decisions quickly, especially in stressful situations
• patience, understanding and a caring attitude
• flexibility and enthusiasm
• the ability to lead and work co-operatively with others
• general good health.

They should enjoy working with and consulting others, solving problems, providing care and directing the work of others.

Above-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

Registered nurses are employed by:

• regional health authorities
• clinics (ambulatory, medical, dental and community)
• primary care settings
• nursing homes
• home care agencies
• large corporations and insurance companies
• government services (for example, penitentiaries, outpost nursing, the foreign service, the Canadian Armed Forces)
• educational institutions.

Some nurses are self-employed.

Advancement to supervisory or administrative positions may require a master's degree in nursing.

Registered nurses are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3012: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. In Alberta, 96% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 45,000 Albertans are employed in the Registered nurses occupational group. This group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.6% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 1,620 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) website: www.nurses.ab.ca

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) website: www.nursesunions.ca

Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) website: www.cna-nurses.ca

United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) website: www.una.ab.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.