Job File: Nurse

A true relay for the doctor, the nursing profession is an essential link in the world of healthcare. Close to patients, approachable and empathetic, these specialists in direct care and assistance must undergo rigorous diploma training, in order to possess precise skills. Let's take a look at the different types of information concerning these experts.

What is the nursing profession?

The nurse is a healthcare specialist. Usually working in hospitals, they are responsible for the specific care and hygiene required by patients. In the course of their work, they may also provide psychological support or carry out administrative tasks. The nature of his work requires that he be able to work at night or at weekends, as medical emergencies do not lend themselves to schedules. It's a proving job, and one that requires a well-developed sense of self-discipline. A sense of service and support are essential to cope with the great pressures of the business.

The different missions of the nursing profession

Patient care

This is the primary mission of the nurse(ère).This care is varied and depends on the patient's clinical situation, working environment and specialization. Here's an overview of the main types of care these professionals can provide:

• Basic care

• • Toilet and personal hygiene : grooming assistance, linen change, mouth, hair and nail care.
  • Nutrition and hydration : feeding assistance, monitoring of specific diets and administration of feeding tubes.
  • Mobilization and pressure sore prevention: assistance with position changes, mobilization of bedridden patients, wound monitoring and care.

• Technical care

• • Administration of medications: orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously, following medical prescriptions and monitoring for side effects.
  • Wound care and dressings : cleaning, désinfection, changing dressings and monitoring healing.
  • Infusions and transfusions : setting up and monitoring intravenous infusions and blood transfusions.
  • Specific care : care related to medical devices such as catheters, urinary catheters or drains.

• Emergency care

• • First aid : cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), anaphylactic shock management and fracture stabilization.
  • Crisis management: management of seizures, respiratory distress and other medical emergencies.
  • Éassessment and triage : rapid assessment of patient status and prioritization of care according to severity.

• Palliative care

• • Pain management : administration of pain medications and non-pharmacological techniques to relieve pain.
  • Psychological support : écoute, émotional support for patients and their families.

• Preventive care

• • Vaccinations : vaccine administration and vaccine schedule awareness.
  • Éducation à la santé : advice on lifestyle hygiene, nutrition, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and other à risk behaviors.
  • Dépistage : participation in campaigns to detect various pathologies such as diabetes, hypertension or cancer.

• Reacute care

• Functional rehabilitation: collaboration with kinésithérapeutes to help with physical récupération.
• Teaching adaptive techniques : using technical aids, adapting daily gestures.
• Psychological support: help managing life changes and adapting to a new health condition.

Coordination of care

Nurses(ères) play a central rôle in this area. They liaise between the various health services, ensuring that care is coherent and continuous. They work as a team with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement personalized care plans.

Medical records management

This is a secondary part of their job, but no less important. Nurses must accurately record all information relating to patient care, including observations, treatments administered and changes in health status. This documentation is essential to ensure continuity of care and effective communication between the various parties involved.

The skills required of a nurse

Technical skills

In order to provide care in a comfortable and safe environment, nurses must possess technical skills such as: 

• Maîtrise des gestes techniques
• Wound care and dressings
• Use of medical equipment
• Knowledge of pharmacology
• Technique de réanimation

Interpersonal skills

Since they are in contact with a fragile, ill and vulnerable public, these professionals must demonstrate numerous interpersonal skills in order to relieve patients of their pain, whether physical or psychological. What's more, they have to be able to work irregular hours and sometimes busy schedules. All these factors require characteristics such as:

• L’empathy
• Compassion
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Conflict management
• L’adaptability
• Résilience

Administrative skills

While they do not always perform these functions within the organizations in which they work, nurses must still master office skills such as: 

• Managing medical files
• Planning and organization 
• Knowledge of protocols
• Stock management
• Tracking care

The training path to become a nurse(ère)

To become a nurse(ère), it is necessary to obtain the Diplôme d'État d'Infirmier (DEI). This diploma takes three years to complete at an Institut de Formation en Soins Infirmiers (IFSI), and includes theoretical and practical courses, as well as clinical placements. It is accessible via the Parcoursup orientation platform. 

In addition, nurses' aides and auxiliaires de puériculture can follow a spécific access pathway under professional promotion.

After obtaining the DEI, nurses can specialize in various fields (pediatrics, anesthesiology, recreation) by taking additional training courses.

These opportunities vary from carriage to carriage for nurses(ères). They can progress to positions of responsibility, such as health executive or director of care, or move into teaching and research. Others may, for example, open a nursing facility and practice on a freelance basis.

Working conditions for nurses

.

The working conditions of nurses vary considerably depending on the setting in which they practice, be it hospital, freelance or other environments.

In hospital settings

• Working hours : they are often irregular and include day and night shifts, as well as weekends and holidays.
• Workload : it can être élevée, especially in emergency, réanimation or surgery departments. In addition, nurses are often required to care for several patients simultaneously, which can generate stress and pressure.
• Work environment :hospital work is carried out in a multidisciplinary team, encouraging collaboration and the exchange of information. access to sophisticated medical equipment and specialized resources is guaranteed.
• Continuing education : hôpitaux often offer opportunities for continuing education and spécialisation, enabling nurses(ères) to keep up to date with médical and technological advances.

En libéral

• Autonomy : libéral nurses enjoy greater freedom in organizing their work, planning their visits and schedules according to patients' needs. In return, they must take on the administrative and financial management of their activity.
• Working hours: they can be more flexible, but require frequent travel, sometimes over long distances.
• Patient-nurse relationship :homecare enables the development of more personalized relationships with patients, contributing to the well-being of both parties.

Other working environments

• Établissements scolaires : school nurses monitor the health of students, manage emergencies and implement preventive programs. Schedules are generally regular, aligned with the school calendar.
• Enterprises : company nurses contribute to the health and well-being of employees, organize prevention campaigns and manage medical emergencies. They often work in collaboration with human resources departments and occupational health managers.
• Centres de réducation et maisons de retraite : nurses in these establishments provide specialized care to people in rehabilitation or care homes, often requiring continuous care and special attention. Schedules may vary, but are often more stable than in hospitals.

The challenges of the nursing profession

There are many. The métier d&e infirmière(ère)is also éproving that’it's challenging. A nurse is never bored. He/she regularly meets new patients and new colleagues. Their missions are varied and their environments multiple. He/she is confronted with both the routine of basic care and the extraordinary of emergency care. It’s an exciting activity, but one that comes with a real effort, both physical and mental. The workload is generally high, in a medical field that has been under strain for several years. Emergency situations can be very provocative, and regularly bring nurses face to face with death and suffering. They must therefore be prepared to deal with these difficult situations and know how to manage the human suffering of patients or their loved ones.

In addition, working hours are irregular, as patients can require medical care at any time, including nights and weekends. Finally, this is not a dental career. These specialists spend long hours on their feet, walking, getting up and moving. They must therefore be in good physical shape and know how to prepare themselves. What's more, they are exposed to pathogens due to the nature of their missions, and must therefore protect themselves from infection.

As you can see, the métier d’infirmier(ère)is difficult, but rewarding. It's a proving (in every sense of the word), stimulating and dynamic profession. As patients' first point of contact in the recovery process, nurses are at the service of human beings and their health. Often generous, they don't count their hours, driven by a rare and precious degree of humanity.

Did you like this article and want to find out more? Find our nursing salary sheet!