what is a nurse?
As a nurse, you work in hospitals and community health centres alongside doctors or pharmacists. You provide primary care and handle every aspect of patient treatment, from treating small injuries to assisting in minor operations.
Your job involves assessing, screening and administering drugs to people of all ages. You also provide basic nursing care like immunisation, vaccination, wound care and collecting samples from patients. Sometimes, your job involves dealing with long-term conditions, such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease.
Working as a nurse involves many duties, providing a challenging and rewarding work environment. That means you should be adaptable and flexible to handle different cases. As a nurse, you also require people skills since you work closely with patients and their families. Your role allows you to develop long-term relationships with individuals to manage their conditions and help them improve their well-being.
You are trained to provide care to all patients, and you can work in any healthcare facility. Hence, you work in hospitals, primary care clinics, nursing homes and hospices or work in government agencies, college campuses, schools and the military.
Would working as a nurse suit your interest in helping others? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a nurse role.
nurse jobsaverage nurse salary
According to the Economic Research Institute, nurses in Greece receive an average salary of €37,000 per year. That means the average hourly rate is €18. You may also get a yearly bonus, averaging around €600. In an entry-level position, you start with a lower salary of €26,000 yearly. With additional experience and specialised skills, you earn over €45,000 annually.
what factors affect the salary of a nurse?
As a nurse, your earnings mainly depend on your experience and expertise. When you are starting out in the role, you start as a general nurse (GN) performing general nursing duties, like dressing wounds and taking patients' vital signs. As you gain experience, you take up complex roles. For instance, when you work with patients in intensive care units (ICU) or specialise in paediatrics.. Also having a master's in nursing improves your salary prospects.
Another factor that influences your earnings is where you work. Working as a nurse in schools or care homes pays different salaries compared to hospitals or private health clinics.
types of nurses
Nurses have multiple areas of specialisation, including:
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registered nurses
As a registered nurse, you assist physicians and doctors with hands-on patient care. The role also involves maintaining patient records and explaining treatment plans to patients. You work in nursing home facilities or hospitals. You can also specialise in a specific healthcare field, like rehabilitation or surgery.
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critical care nurses
As a critical care nurse, you work in the intensive care unit, providing care to patients with life-threatening conditions. Your duties range from cleaning wounds to changing catheters and infusing blood.
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cardiac nurses
As a cardiac nurse, you specialise in cardiology or heart health. You work in hospitals or long-term care facilities, assisting patients with heart conditions. Your duties include aiding surgeries and assisting patients using medical devices.
working as a nurse
Becoming a general nurse is a rewarding career that involves helping people. It's a hands-on job that requires confidence and passion for serving others. Let's explore the specific duties and work environment of a nurse.
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what does a nurse do?
The specific duties and responsibilities of a nurse include:
- Recording patient symptoms: as a nurse, you ask patients about the symptoms they are experiencing and record their vitals. It simplifies the diagnosis process of a doctor. You update the patient's medical records with the new diagnosis and the doctor's recommended treatment plan. You also gather information from a patient's file, such as allergies, current medications and relevant family history, which will help with the diagnosis.
- Administering treatments: as a nurse, you participate in developing treatment plans and administering medications prescribed by physicians. You also treat minor injuries, clean and dress wounds, insert and remove catheters, and change bandages.
- Performing diagnostic tests: during diagnosis, the doctor may recommend various tests on the patient. As a nurse, you collect different kind of samples like bloodsamples and send them to the lab for analysis. You are also responsible for analysing the results of the tests and sharing your findings with the medical team.
- Conducting physical examinations: as a nurse, you assess the overall health of a patient before they begin a new treatment plan. For instance, you determine their temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat. You also test a patient's reflexes, examine their throat, eyes, ears and nose, and inform the medical team of their health condition.
- Providing support and advice to patients: as a nurse, you ensure the patient is comfortable and understands the treatment plan. You also provide support when a patient receives challenging medical news and advise them on ways to improve their health.
- Educating patients on managing illnesses: as a nurse, you educate patients on various symptoms and how to manage them. You also explain post-treatment home care and provide clear instructions about when a patient needs to see a doctor immediately. You can recommend rehabilitative exercises or practices to improve patients' health.
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work environment of a nurse
Nurses work in clinics and hospitals. You can also work with the military or in academic institutions. Your work environment depends on your area of specialisation and industry sector. For instance, if you offer your services to private companies, you work in corporate settings, while working in the military involves working outdoors. When you work in hospitals, you spend most of the day on your feet helping patients. You are also required to wear a uniform in healthcare centres.
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who are your colleagues?
As a nurse, you work with diverse professionals depending on your employer. At the hospital, you work with doctors, surgeons and paediatricians. In nursing homes, you work with care workers, care home managers and social workers. In schools, you work alongside teachers and school administrators.
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nurse work schedule
The work schedule of a nurse is between 38 to 40 hours a week. You may work regular hours in clinics and private health centres. However, if you work in emergency centres and busy hospitals, you work on shift schedules since they often run 24 hours a day. When you work in clinics, you can find part-time nursing opportunities.
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career opportunities as a nurse
As a nurse, you are trained in all nursing roles. That means you can specialise in specific areas with extra training. For instance, you could become an adult or paediatric nurse. Alternatively, move to community health roles like district nursing and care home nursing. You also have a chance to improve your skills and gain certification to become a registered nurse or nurse manager.
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advantages of finding a job as a nurse through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help
- a range of jobs in your area
nurse skills and education
To work as a nurse in Greece, you require the following educational qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree: you require a BSc in Nursing from an approved institute to work as a nurse in Greece. A bachelor’s degree in nursing takes four years and includes theory and practical nursing. You should also complete the mandatory hours of clinical practice accreditation requirements in EU States.
- Licence and certification: to work as a nurse in Greece, you should meet the professional requirements and practices stipulated by the regulations. Nursing in Greece is regulated by the Hellenic Regulatory Board of Nurses (HRBN). You can register with the Hellenic Nurses Association and get a licence upon graduation from a higher education nursing institution.
competencies and characteristics of nurses
As a nurse, you need the following skills and competencies:
- Caring: as a nurse, it is important to provide the best care for your patients. Being caring helps you administer treatments on time to alleviate pain and advise patients on the best ways to boost recovery.
- Attention to detail: as a nurse, you juggle many tasks, from receiving physician instructions to conducting examinations. When you are detail-oriented, you minimise the chance of mixing up treatment plans or administering the wrong medicine to patients.
- Problem-solving skills: you need natural problem-solving skills to succeed in the role since you handle various patients, and sometimes the diagnosis from tests needs clarification. Exceptional problem-solving skills help you avoid adverse patient outcomes.
- Stamina: the physical demands of being a nurse can take a toll on you. Your role involves lifting and adjusting patients, walking around the hospital and administering treatments. Being physically fit makes your work easier.
- Communication skills: as a nurse, you spend the day interacting with patients and other medical professionals. Aside from having excellent verbal communication skills, you should portray positive non-verbal communication. Your communication skills help you communicate with patients clearly and with confidence.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a nurse.
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what do you need to be a nurse in Greece?
You require a valid licence to practise nursing in Greece. That means you should complete a 4-year nursing degree to qualify for a nursing licence. You also require experience working with patients, which you can gain through practical training.
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what is the role of a nurse?
As a nurse, you assist doctors with patient diagnosis by taking vital signs and retrieving their medical history. After diagnosis and determination of the treatment plan, you administer medication and explain treatments to patients and their families.
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what skills do you require to be a nurse?
As a nurse, you work closely with patients and their families. Hence, you require communication skills to communicate with patients clearly. Being compassionate helps you empathise with patients and help them during the treatment process.
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what is the highest level of a nurse?
The highest level of clinical nursing is a registered nurse. A registered nurse can prescribe medication and create treatment plans.
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what is it like to be a nurse?
Working as a nurse involves standing long hours as you attend to patients. You also lift and support patients while they receive treatments. Although being a nurse is a challenging career, it also career since you help a lot of people.
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how do I find a job as a nurse?
Finding a job near you as a nurse is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page.
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