Who are licensed individuals that work under the direction of physicians to provide total care to patients?

Registered Nurses (RNs) are licensed professionals who work under the direction of physicians to provide comprehensive care to patients. They play a critical role in the healthcare system by assessing patient needs, developing and implementing nursing care plans, administering medications, and coordinating care with other healthcare providers. RNs have a broad scope of practice that allows them to understand and respond to complex medical situations, ensure patient safety, and advocate for patients' best interests.

While Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) assist in providing care, they typically work under the supervision of RNs or physicians and have a more limited scope of practice compared to RNs. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) operate with more autonomy and have advanced training that enables them to diagnose and treat medical conditions, often without direct oversight from a physician. Healthcare Assistants offer support but do not hold licenses for advanced clinical tasks and generally perform more basic and routine tasks under the supervision of nursing staff.