Explore a Career as a Registered Nurse

Breaking Down the Job Responsibilities

The sheer number of fields a registered nurse (RN) can specialize in means that there are many different places in which a nurse may be found working. However, regardless of specialty or field, all nurses treat patients, provide families with emotional support and educate the public about various medical conditions. Registered nurses can run tests, analyze the results, operate medical equipment, administer medication and treatment, and help patients with rehabilitation after treatment.

There are four main ways nurses can choose to specialize within their profession. Nurses can base their specialization within a particular setting (i.e., surgery), health condition (i.e., cancer research and treatment), body systems (i.e., dermatology) or patient type (i.e., pediatrics).

As a registered nurse, you may find yourself asked to work in various settings and positions. Many nursing positions exist as part of a team dynamic, where individual nurses form a nursing unit or staff.  Individual abilities and career interests also play a factor in the determination of a nurse's position. For those nurses who prefer to work more directly with patients, a career as a clinical nurse specialist may be an excellent choice.  Clinical nurse specialists are registered nurses who direct patient care whether within an out-patient medical facility or within a patient's home. Meanwhile, nurse informaticists have less interaction with patients and instead manage the communication and data entry of patients' health care records.

The majority of RNs are found working either in health care facilities or traveling to patients' homes for home health or public health services. As a result, the registered nurse can have unusual hours.  While certain hospitals and clinics maintain regular shifts, a registered nurse may also be required to complete a designated number of “on-call” hours. In this case, a nurse would have to be available for medical assistance 24 hours a day.

Securing the Required and Desired Skills

Successful nurses exhibit an assortment of skills; however, there is no one definitive list of appropriate traits.  As a registered nurse, you will encounter a variety of job responsibilities and personalities. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for challenges and adaptable to situations on an as-needed basis.   Emotional stability to cope with emergencies and other job stresses is a very important trait. Moreover, a genuine passion for the profession will help override the daily stress of the job. 

Communication, as in most professions, is an essential aspect of the nursing profession. Patients look to their health care professional not only to be confident and well-trained, but to put them at ease concerning any procedure or condition. Similarly, RNs must have the ability to correctly diagnose patients' needs when it comes to treatment and to correctly and effectively supervise others.

In addition, other qualities a good nurse may possess include such attributes as attention to detail, responsible, hard-working, sympathetic and caring.  

Getting the Education You Need

Education is a fundamental part of becoming a registered nurse; however, the ways in which you receive this education can vary.  In fact, there are three possible educational paths you may pursue in order to become a registered nurse. The first option allows you to pursue a diploma through a local hospital. Hospital diploma programs take about three years to complete. An associate's degree program in nursing (ADN) is another possible path open to those students interested in nursing. An associate's degree program can take two to three years to complete and is offered through many junior and community colleges. The final option for becoming a registered nurse includes the completion of a bachelor's degree of science in nursing (BSN). This degree program, unlike the aforementioned options, most typically lasts four years and is offered through many public and private colleges and universities.

Each of these options, upon completion, would make a nursing graduate eligible for an entry-level nursing position. However, higher education -- as with any career -- will mean better opportunities for advancement. In some cases, nursing positions are only open to those with some type of higher education. Therefore, many nurses have taken advantage of health care facilities' tuition reimbursement programs and returned to school while maintaining their job at the same time.

After having completed one of these approved nursing programs, registered nurses must obtain proper licensure. This procedure requires nurses to pass a national licensing exam, known as the NCLEX-RN. All states require periodic review of licenses, which may mean more education in the long-run. Clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners are also usually required to become certified in their specific field.

The Pay Off

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "the median annual earnings of registered nurses were $57,280 in May 2006." Below is a table that shows the average wages of nurses who work in industries employing the largest number of registered nurses.

The Added Essentials

Most employers will offer RNs flexible hours. The benefit of choosing hours usually comes with experience and time. RNs usually have educational benefits, such as tuition reimbursement, child care and yearly bonuses. Like most professions, RNs have access to sick leave and vacation time. In addition, registered nurses, particularly those employed through a hospital or private health care facility, have access to generous health care packages.

Looking Forward: Employment Opportunities and Future Trends

Employment of RNs is projected to increase in the upcoming years due to technological advances in medicine, a greater emphasis on preventative care and an increase in the number of elderly patients. The employment will not grow at the same rate in every industry for various reasons. For example, employment in hospitals is not expected to grow as fast as other industries because patients are being released at a more rapid pace and treatment is becoming more readily available through outpatient care. For this reason, the number of nurses employed by outpatient care centers is expected to increase more rapidly. Job prospects are also estimated to be better for nurses with bachelor's degrees.  

Opportunities for Advancement

Beginning as staff nurses in hospitals, RNs with the right education, experience and job performance will have the opportunity to advance to more responsible positions. These positions include assistant unit manager, head nurse, assistant director, director, vice president or chief nurse. The upper-level management positions often require a graduate or advanced degree in the field. Some nurses can advance to positions in different facets of health care as they become business consultants, policy developers or even university faculty.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2008). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses (2008-2009 ed.). Retrieved January 7, 2008, from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm