The registered nurse tends to oversee aspects of the patient's care in a more direct manner. She or he alerts the doctor if a patient's health or vitals suddenly changes, starts IVs, administers oral or intravenous medication, and answers a patient's questions. Some nurses specialize in certain fields. Surgical nurses might work in surgery settings, assisting during operations, others may work in doctor's offices, clinics, birthing centers, or as hospice workers. Some nurses work in the home health industry overseeing the health and recovery of patients in the home setting.
Some nurses may choose to further their education and become an advance practice nurse (APN). These nurses usually hold master's or doctorate degrees, and often have additional certifications. APNs may take a more active role in healthcare; a nurse practitioner, for example, can provide a range of healthcare services, including diagnosing conditions and treating illnesses.
In hospital settings nurses can also take on administrative jobs. They may be responsible for overseeing a ward, scheduling, supervision, employee reviews and other business aspects of the medical field. In doctors' offices, nurses might work with insurance companies, transcribe medical information, and be responsible for overseeing an office, or other nurses or medical employees. Other nurses teach at nursing schools or universities, or teach communities about public health related issues. Variance in possible duties is significant because of the wide range of jobs available in the nursing profession.