May 12: International Nurses Day
Manuel Van den Broucke, sports, society and politics correspondent, May 12, 2025
The role of nurses in the health system
A nurse begins by performing a clinical assessment: measuring vital signs, conducting a targeted examination and taking the patient's medical history. Based on this data, she makes a diagnosis, then develops an individualized care plan. Her interventions include administering treatments, managing devices such as catheters, ventilators or infusion pumps, and performing invasive procedures such as venipuncture. At the same time, she coordinates the multidisciplinary team - physicians, pharmacists, rehabilitation specialists, social workers - to ensure continuity of care. Responsible for the quality of care, she monitors infection risk indicators, applies hygiene protocols and reports any adverse events. Finally, the nurse ensures that patients' rights are respected: she confirms informed consent, raises the alarm in cases of abuse, and guarantees the confidentiality of information.
Different nursing specialties
The state-registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) specializes in analgesia and ventilation. She prepares anesthetic agents, monitors the patient's hemodynamic balance and manages postoperative recovery. The operating room nurse ensures the sterility of the operating field, anticipates surgical procedures, manages instrumentation and coordinates the entire surgical circuit to limit the risk of infection. Trained in neonatal physiology and psychomotor development, the pediatric nurse supports newborns and their families, particularly in maternity wards. The advanced practice nurse, who holds a master's degree, provides clinical follow-up for patients with chronic illnesses and can renew prescriptions. Specialized in mental health, the psychiatric nurse conducts clinical interviews, administers psychotropic treatments and implements behavioral therapies. The geriatric nurse adapts care to the frailties associated with aging and manages conditions common among the elderly, such as falls or malnutrition. Responsible for preventing healthcare-associated infections, the infection control nurse conducts compliance audits and calculates epidemiological indicators. The emergency nurse, or mobile emergency unit nurse, works outside hospital settings, often in extreme emergencies. Skilled in triage, disaster medicine and difficult airway management, she stabilizes vital functions in the field.