Nursing has changed greatly since the first nursing class graduated from Florence Nightingale's nursing school in 1860. The great advances in medicine over the last century have brought about changes in the demands placed on nurses. Today, there are over 3 million registered nurses working in the United States alone, and these nurses cover a wide range of specialties and have a wide range of responsibilities (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The typical day of a registered nurse can range from being involved in a medical specialty to performing a specific task. There are over 104 nursing specialties, including anesthesia, critical care, obstetrics and gynecology, and geriatrics, to name a few (Explore Specialties). Registered nurses are trained specifically for their chosen specialty or, if they choose not to do specialty nursing, can care for a wide range of patients working on one floor in a hospital or family clinic. In both situations, however, a typical nurse's day is filled with hard work and responsibility. Nursing responsibilities include taking patient histories and performing an initial patient assessment. This gives the nurse the opportunity to have a one-on-one meeting with the patient during which she can provide health advice and talk to the patient about his or her health. The nurse is often the first person the patient sees, making important health assessments and decisions regarding triage and next steps for patient care. After the patient has been evaluated by a doctor, the nurse may administer medications and certain treatments based on the doctor's direction. Last but not least, the nurse is often the person who follows the patient regarding his condition... middle of paper... upholds this high standard and brings it into the healthcare institutions of today and tomorrow .Works citeBureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Registered Nurses, December 1, 2013"Explore Specialties." Discover Nursing. December 1, 2013 "How to become a nurse." How to become a nurse. November 30, 2013 “LPN Requirements.” LPN Requirements. 02 December 2013 "What nurses do." What nurses do. American Nurses Association. 01 December. 2013 .