What's the day-to-day like in a vocational nurse job?

Thinking of pursuing a career as a vocational nurse, but I’m not sure what the job entails. Can anyone share an overview of what a vocational nurse does daily?

Of course! As a vocational nurse, your daily routine can vary quite a bit depending on your specific workplace, but I'll provide a general idea of what your day might look like.

You'd likely start your shift by receiving a patient report from the outgoing nurse. This report gives you a rundown of your patients’ current conditions, medication schedules, and any special needs or concerns.

Then, you’d likely handle patient care. This can involve a wide range of tasks, from taking vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, etc.), and administering medications, to documenting patient histories and symptoms. Since vocational nurses work closely with patients, patient comfort and emotional support can be a significant part of the job.

In between these tasks, you'll likely interact with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and registered nurses. You may communicate patient updates to them, participate in care planning, and sometimes assist in the performance of more complex medical procedures.

Finally, all the activities throughout your shift need to be documented and communicated to the next shift's nurse — ensuring seamless care from shift to shift.

Do be aware that nursing can be physically demanding as you'll be on your feet for several hours and may need to help move or lift patients at times. It also requires strong decision-making and communication skills due to the imperative nature of patient care.

Overall, vocational nursing is a dynamic, challenging, but ultimately rewarding field that gives you the chance to have a significant positive impact on patients' lives every day!