A professional who cares for patients and children in private homes, hospitals, sanatoriums, industrial plants, and similar institutions. Respnsibilities include:

• Bathes and dresses bed patients, combs hair, and otherwise attends to their comfort and personal appearance.
• Cleans room, and changes bed linen.
• Takes and records temperature, pulse, and respiration rate.
• Gives medication as directed by physician or nurse, general duty, and makes notation of amount and time given.
• Gives enemas, douches, massages, and alcohol rubs.
• Applies hot and cold compresses and hot water bottles.
• Sterilizes equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
• Prepares food trays, feeds patients, and records food and liquid intake and output.
• Cooks, washes, cleans, and does other housekeeping duties in private home.
• May give injections.
• May care for infants and small children in private home.
• For practical nurses meeting state licensing requirements see nurse, licensed practical.