A nurse, whether a registered nurse (RN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is a key part of the medical team. In hospital settings nurses often provide the most patient care, carrying out the orders of a doctor, administering medications, supervising the use of medical equipment, observing and directly caring for patients, and acting as intermediary between patients and their families and physicians. A nurse's job varies depending upon where he or she works, and certain jobs can be performed by RNs but not by LVNs because LVNs have less training and education.