Registered nurses, or R-Ns, play a crucial role in providing physical and emotional care for the sick, injured, and handicapped. Nursing is an occupation of great responsibility. The well-being of patients must be constantly observed, understood and evaluated. If a patient’s condition changes in any way, an R-N must make smart and timely decisions about what to do next, administering the correct medications, and informing and assisting physicians. If you are interested in this career, you should have a compassionate attitude and a strong desire to help others. Not only must you be able to provide bedside care and make patients feel at ease before surgery, but you must also have the willingness to help educate individuals and groups about good health and hygiene. At the same time, R-Ns must also be able to deal with emergency situations and long overtime hours, always remaining focused on, and dedicated to, the work at hand. Registered nurses work in a variety of settings, ranging from hospitals to clinics to nursing homes. In all of these work environments there are some risks, such as working with patients who have infectious diseases or with machines that use radiation. But if you’re interested in this occupation and you follow strict safety precautions in your work, the benefits and rewards of nursing far outweigh the risks.