What Is a Registered Nurse?
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Credit: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / DigitalVision / Getty ImagesAre you looking for a challenging and rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of others? Registered nurses (RNs) benefit from a strong employment outlook, abundant job opportunities, and a solid salary range.
This guide explores the steps to becoming a nurse, common RN work settings, and the RN salary outlook. Is this versatile healthcare career right for you? Here are all the details to help you decide.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
RNs work in almost every healthcare environment imaginable, and their duties can vary tremendously from job to job and day to day.
RNs are an integral part of the care team and work closely with every team member to deliver and coordinate patient care and accommodate or advocate for patients when necessary.
RNs provide care to patients by assessing and monitoring their condition, coordinating with physicians during certain medical procedures, including surgery, and administering prescribed treatments. They also perform diagnostic tests, operate medical equipment, and educate patients on follow-up care.
A nurse’s key traits and responsibilities include the following.
Key Responsibilities
- Performing physical examinations and gathering patient health histories before making critical decisions
- Administering medications and performing personalized medical interventions
- Educating and supporting patients by providing health promotion, counseling, and emotional support
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals on the care team to coordinate patient care
- Advocating for each patient’s health and well-being
Career Traits
- Communication Skills
- Empathy and Compassion
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity and Advocacy
- Willingness to Learn
According to the American Nursing Association, nurses must also be even-tempered, flexible, and hard-working. A healthy sense of humor doesn’t hurt, either.
Where Do Registered Nurses Work?
RNs work in virtually every traditional healthcare setting, including hospitals, private physician practices, residential facilities such as nursing homes, and health clinics including urgent care centers. They also work in less traditional settings like schools, government agencies, airplanes, and even cruise ships. If there’s a need for healthcare expertise, there’s a good chance an RN might be nearby.
The most common work settings for RNs include:
Hospitals
In hospitals, RNs often monitor patient health, perform tests, deliver care like dressing wounds or administering treatments, supervise other professionals such as certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and collaborate with physicians and other healthcare providers. Hospitals are the most common practice setting for RNs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 60% of all RNs in the U.S. worked in a hospital as of 2022.
Outpatient Offices
In outpatient or ambulatory care settings, such as a doctor’s office or clinic, RNs may administer medications and vaccines, communicate with patients in person and over the phone, take medical histories, and educate patients.
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
In facilities like nursing homes and residential facilities, long-term care RNs take care of patients each day, many of whom have complex or serious health problems. These RNs perform medical tests and monitoring and act as liaisons to families and other care team members.
Home Care Nursing
In addition to working in a healthcare facility, RNs can provide care in patients’ homes as home care nurses, palliative care nurses, wound care nurses, and more. Depending on the patient, these nurses perform assessments, provide day-to-day assistance as well as more complex care, manage medication, educate patients, and much more.
Why Become a Registered Nurse?
According to the results of a 2024 Gallup poll, nursing is the most trusted profession in the United States.
There are other benefits, too. The average RN salary of about $94,000 is well above the BLS national average of $65,470 for all occupations. Salary and professional opportunities can further increase with more advanced education credentials.
For example, nurses whose highest degree is the two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) earn an average annual salary of $80,707, according to ZipRecrtuier. Graduates of the four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program earn an average of $90,046 per year. Meanwhile, nurses who complete a graduate-level master of science in nursing (MSN) program earn an average of $172,199 per year.
The demand for RNs continues to grow as the nation’s nursing shortage continues.
However, the nursing profession comes with its challenges. While it’s a rewarding career for millions of people, it is not for everyone. Here is a list of common advantages and disadvantages to being an RN. This list is general and not intended to apply to every workplace.
Advantages of Becoming a Nurse
The nation’s most trusted profession- Frequent opportunities to improve lives
- Above-average salaries
- Strong job outlook and security
- High potential for specialization and career growth
Disadvantages of Becoming a Nurse
Stress and potential burnout- Heightened risk of injury, illness, and even violence
- Physically and mentally demanding work
- Limited scope of practice depending on position and workplace
How to Become a Registered Nurse
To become an RN, you must complete four broad steps.
- Graduate from an accredited program
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam
- Receive your nursing license from your state board of nursing
- Get hired as an RN, gain experience, maintain licensure
The minimum educational requirement for RNs is an RN diploma or associate degree in nursing (ADN). However, more states and employers now require or prefer BSN degrees. Research has shown that BSN-trained nurses help reduce patient mortality, shorten the length of stay in a hospital or similar facility, and lower the rates of readmission back into the hospital.
After graduating from an accredited nursing program, candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN to get a state nursing license.
To qualify for the NCLEX-RN, a candidate must have graduated from an accredited program and meet the requirements for licensure in their state (check with your state board of nursing for more information). Specific application processes and fees usually apply.
Registered Nurse Specializations
RNs can focus their careers in dozens of different ways, specializing in specific patient populations, such as children, or a specific type of patient care, such as heart surgery. After acquiring the necessary experience, RNs may obtain a certification to prove their expertise in a given specialty.
Certifications validate an RN’s knowledge in a given specialty and illustrate their commitment to professional development. Certifications can also increase earning potential.
Here are six common nurse specialties including average annual salary data from Payscale, but please note that there are many more nursing specialties and salary ranges available.
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric RNs specialize in caring for children at family care physician practices, hospitals, or schools. They also educate families on child health in general and how to address a specific health need.
Average Salary:$69,040
Neonatal Nurse
Neonatal RNs can care for newborn infants in various settings. They may work in hospital maternity units, neonatal intensive care units (NICU), or in the community, helping parents care for their newborns.
Average Salary:$78,182
Critical Care Nurse
Critical care RNs provide care to patients with the most serious conditions or injuries, usually in intensive care units or emergency departments. This specialty requires steadiness under pressure, specialized knowledge, and quick decision-making.
Average Salary:$81,935
Gerontology Nurse
Gerontology RNs work with older patients, often in long-term residential care (nursing homes) or rehabilitation settings. They may care for patients for a long time, which can be both emotionally challenging and rewarding.
Average Salary:$76,053
Oncology Nurse
Oncology RNs specialize in helping cancer patients, generally in hospitals and specialized care facilities. Like gerontology, oncology nursing can be emotionally stressful and rewarding.
Average Salary: $81,987
Emergency Nurse
Emergency nurses care for patients from birth to death and treat every patient demographic and medical condition in the emergency department. This specialty requires steadiness under pressure, broad medical knowledge, hustle, and excellent critical thinking skills.
Average Salary:$77,834
Nursing Certification
A nursing certification is a credential that demonstrates expertise in a specific area of nursing. Nurses earn it through a combination of experience and passing an exam. While it’s not necessary to obtain a certification, it can increase your opportunities and earning potential.
Requirements to take a certification exam typically include an active, unencumbered license in Canada or the U.S., 24 months and at least 2,000 hours of experience in the specialty, and employment in the specialty within the last 24-36 months.
How Much Money Do RNs Make?
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for RNs is $94,480. However, the amount an RN makes is influenced by several factors, including experience level, geographic location, work setting, certifications, and more.
The BLS estimates that RNs in the lowest 10% of the pay range earn an average annual salary of $61,250. Those in the highest 10% of the workforce earn $129,400.
The biggest employers include general medical and surgical hospitals, where nurses earn an annual mean salary of $96,830. Physician’s offices have the lowest pay for RNs, with an annual mean salary of $83,110. Even the lower salary averages, however, still significantly outpace the national average of $65,470.
Location can make a major impact on your salary. Keep in mind, of course, that the cost of living also varies and can greatly affect spending power and earnings. Below is a list of the top-paying states for RNs and the total number of RNs employed there.
| State | Annual Mean Wage | Total Number of RNs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $137,690 | 332,560 |
| Hawaii | $119,710 | 11,920 |
| Oregon | $113,440 | 38,770 |
| Washington | $111,030 | 65,030 |
| Alaska | $109,210 | 6,590 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Registered Nurses
Registered nurses work just about anywhere healthcare is delivered. They are essential to the healthcare team, whether in the operating room or the family doctor’s office. Nursing specialties vary tremendously, and RNs deliver many types of care to many different patient groups. RNs also use their expertise to become leaders and advocates away from the bedside.
