How to Become a Registered Nurse
Credit: Morsa Images / Digital Vision / Getty ImagesMore than 3.3 million registered nurses (RNs) provide essential patient care in healthcare settings nationwide. New RNs can enter the profession in as little as two years. Thanks to many job openings and a median pay of well over $90,000 per year, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it’s a great time to become an RN.
Our guide provides a step-by-step plan covering how to become a registered nurse.
What Is a Registered Nurse?
Registered nurses provide nursing care to patients of all ages. Their duties include administering medication and treatment, assessing patients, maintaining medical records, and educating patients and their families. RNs can specialize in areas like medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, critical care, and oncology.
An RN career offers flexibility and diverse opportunities. As licensed medical professionals, RNs can work in various practice settings, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, patients’ homes, and even medical spas. Nursing careers also offer many chances for growth and advancement.
Steps to Becoming a Registered Nurse
How do prospective nurses become RNs? The process starts with an accredited nursing program, which builds the clinical knowledge and patient care skills required to work as an RN.
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Earn an ADN or BSN Degree From an Accredited Program
You can earn a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Both may require common prerequisites for nursing school, such as basic anatomy, physiology, biology, and psychology.
While an ADN is the fastest nursing school path to become an RN, a BSN can increase your job opportunities. If you start your nursing career with an ADN, you can pursue a BSN later with an RN-to-BSN program.
- 2
Pass the NCLEX Exam to Receive RN Licensure
Each prospective RN must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for RN licensure from their state board of nursing. The NCLEX-RN includes a minimum of 75 questions and tests skills in four areas: safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.
Licensure may also require a criminal background check. Your educational mentors and state nursing board can answer your questions about other potential requirements in your state.
- 3
Gain Experience in Your Desired Specialty Area
With an RN license, nurses can begin their nursing career search, gain experience, and explore specialties during clinical rotations. Working in a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office can build clinical expertise in a specialty area.
- 4
Become Certified in Your Specialty
Pursuing certification in a nursing specialty can lead to greater recognition, more career opportunities, and a higher salary potential. To qualify, you often need two or more years of full-time clinical RN experience in your specialty and a passing score on an exam. RNs can also pursue specialized graduate degrees.
Registered Nurse Education
Nursing students spend a minimum of two years to become RNs. However, a four-year BSN can offer several advantages for employment and career advancement. RNs need BSNs to become advanced practice nurses, such as clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or nurse practitioners.
The ideal education pathway depends on your timeline, budget, and career goals. Be sure to understand the differences between ADN and BSN degrees, including which option can better help you achieve your goals.
ADN Degree
An ADN is the fastest way to become an RN. While this two-year degree meets the minimum eligibility requirements for the NCLEX-RN exam and RN licensure, some employers may prefer or require BSN-level candidates.
- Admission Requirements: Each applicant needs a high school diploma or GED certificate to enroll in an ADN program. Schools may require a minimum 2.0-3.0 GPA. Required application materials may include personal essays, SAT or ACT scores, and transcripts.
- Program Curriculum: ADN courses include nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, nutrition, and health system concepts. These programs also require clinical hours.
- Time to Complete: ADN programs typically take two years for full-time students. The length depends on enrollment status and transfer credits.
- Skills Learned: Students develop the nursing skills necessary to work in a clinical setting. ADN graduates can deliver nursing care across diverse populations, such as older adults, children, and infants.
BSN Degree
A BSN provides a broad education in leadership, critical thinking, and coordinating patient care. ADN-prepared nurses can earn a BSN with an RN-to-BSN program, while those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can earn an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree (ABSN).
- Admission Requirements: BSN admissions requirements often include SAT or ACT scores, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and 2-3 letters of recommendation.
- Program Curriculum: Core topics include leadership and management in nursing, cultural awareness, evidence-based nursing practice, and contemporary issues in healthcare.
- Time to Complete: Traditional BSN programs take four years to complete. RN-to-BSNs take 1-2 years, while accelerated programs are the fastest — typically requiring only 12-18 months.
- Skills Learned: BSN students gain fundamental nursing skills in leadership, research, and public health. Students can also develop specialized knowledge in areas like psychiatric nursing and community health nursing.
Registered Nurse Licensure and Certification
RNs must hold a state-issued license to practice. While not required for employment, certifications acknowledge an RN’s expertise in specific areas. Certification can also boost an RN’s career in terms of pay and responsibility.
Licensure
Earning an RN license is the last step to becoming a registered nurse. A prospective RN must apply for a license from their state board of nursing after earning their degree, completing clinical hours, and passing the NCLEX-RN.
Each state board sets different standards and may require additional training courses to qualify for and renew licensure. RNs typically must renew their licenses every two years. Individuals must complete training courses and continuing education hours to renew their RN license.
Certification
Optional certifications showcase an RN’s skills to potential employers. RNs specializing in emergency care, pediatrics, or cardiac nursing, among many other areas, may benefit from certification.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center and other nursing organizations offer certifications for RNs. Qualifying RNs typically must complete a specific number of clinical hours and pass an exam to earn these credentials.
Registered Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
The career outlook for RNs remains strong. Many RNs work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing facilities, and outpatient care centers. The number of RN jobs will grow 6% from 2023-2033, according to BLS projections (BLS). That translates into around 194,500 RN job openings annually.
RN salaries vary depending on degree, specialization, and the workplace. According to BLS data from May 2024, RNs earn a median salary of $93,600.
Nursing students can find positions through their schools, hospitals, medical offices, and job boards. For example, the American Nurses Association offers a career center where members can find open positions.
Hospitals (State, Local, and Private)
RNs work in every hospital unit. Depending on their specialty, RNs might help treat patients in operating rooms, intensive care units, and neonatal units. They administer medication, complete patient assessments, establish patient care priorities, and intervene in emergencies to save lives.
Outpatient Care Centers
This category includes physicians’ offices and is sometimes known as ambulatory care nursing. Outpatient care is the second-largest employer of RNs. Nurses in these settings typically work the day shift and assess patients’ overall health, monitor vital signs, administer medications, educate patients and their families, and help manage pain.
Government
Nurses in government are a relative minority of the total RN workforce but earn the highest median salary in the profession. Government nurses may find work in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system, public health clinics, and local healthcare positions.
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
In nursing and residential care facilities, RNs work day and night shifts. They implement infection-control policies, administer medications, coordinate care plans, and monitor residents.
How to Become a Registered Nurse: FAQ
You can become an RN in just two years by enrolling in a two-year ADN program. These degrees build the clinical and patient care skills needed for RN licensure and entry-level RN jobs. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, an accelerated BSN program can prepare you for RN licensure in as little as one year.
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