1) Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.

2) Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, and note times and amounts on patients' charts.

3) Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.

4) Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.

5) Provide basic patient care and treatments, such as taking temperatures and blood pressure, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas, douches, alcohol rubs, and massages, or performing catheterizations.

6) Help patients with bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, moving in bed, and standing and walking.

7) Supervise nurses' aides and assistants.

8) Work as part of a health care team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care and implement interventions.

9) Record food and fluid intake and output.