RN Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse or RN may specialize in the treatment of patients and help to establish patient care plans. Since the education requirements are longer for a Registered Nurse versus a Licensed Practical Nurse, the RN is expected to handle more complex nursing situations and will often supervise LPN nurses, nursing aides, orderlies, nursing assistants, and nursing care technicians. A Registered Nurse can work under the direction of a physician, provide initial assessments, and immediate care for patients. As a nursing career, Registered Nurse is the largest health care occupation and a requirement for many advancement opportunities in the field of nursing.

RN Nursing Career Points:

RN nursing programs generally last 2 to 4 year and are offered by hospitals, vocational nursing schools, technical schools, community colleges, junior colleges, colleges and universities.
RN designation is obtained by passing a state board of nursing license exam and paying any required fees.
RN nursing job prospects are currently excellent and are expected to grow.

Registered Nurse At Work

The majority of Registered Nurses and other nurses work at hospitals. Registered nursing work in a hospital varies by department, shift, nursing care philosophy, and hospital specific procedures. New nurses will undergo a nursing orientation period designed to help them learn and understand their daily routines. A few of the well known hospital departments where RN and other nurses work are the Emergency Room (ER), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), Obstetrics & Gynecology, Operating Room (OR), and Outpatient.

In addition to hospitals, Registered Nurses may also work in private practice medical offices, clinics, surgical centers, emergency medical facilities, and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Nursing Homes and other private and public health facilities may also hire Registered Nurses, however, remember that state licensing and other factors may limit the role of a Registered Nurses.

A Registered Nurse in a hospital or nursing care facility may perform these basic services: Record patients medical histories and symptoms, perform diagnostic tests, analyze test results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment, administer medications, follow up with patients, assist with rehabilitation, provide advice and emotional support. Starting and maintaining intravenous IV lines, consult with physicians and medical clinicians, and provide direction to or supervise LPN nurses and nursing assistants with regards to patient care. Information gathered by the RN is generally shared with other nurses, doctors, and facility staff as needed to best care for the patient.

As with many medical careers, a Registered Nurse often stands for a long period of time. A 40 hour work week is typical, however, shifts at facilities that require 24 hour care may be split into mornings, days, and nights, with the additional need to fill weekends and holidays. Medical environment hazards include the presence of disease, the use of chemicals, injections, possible radiation exposure, injury if providing direct patient care to patients who are confused or uncooperative. During times of overload at a hospital, for example, workload related stress can also be present for a Registered Nurse.

Registered Nurse Requirements

To become a Registered Nurse, you must complete a state approved Registered Nurse training program, then pass the registered nurse licensing exam. Registered nursing programs generally last 2 to 4 years and are offered by hospitals, vocational nursing schools, technical schools, community colleges, junior colleges, colleges and universities. The applicable license exam for all U.S. states is the NCLEX-RN, which was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The NCLEX-RN exam is computer based and covers 4 subject areas: (1) Safe Effective Care Environment, (2) Health Promotion and Maintenance, (3) Psychosocial Integrity, and (4) Physiological Integrity.

Aside from the training requirements, RN candidates should be caring and sympathetic by nature. In other words, if you are easily agitated by others, Registered Nurse is not a career for you. Caring for the sick, injured, disabled and convalescent can be emotionally stressful. RN candidates should not be squeamish and afraid to interact with patients in a medical setting. Good decision making and communication skills are also required given the amount of interaction between the RN, patients, the patients' family, Doctors, and other nursing and medical facility staff.

Visit your state board of nursing website using the links on our site to obtain the latest information about RN requirements in your state and neighboring states. Always remember to verify that your Registered Nurse program is approved by your state, otherwise you may not be able to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

Registered Nurse Jobs

Registered Nurse jobs are expected to grow faster than average through 2016 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Registered Nurses held approximately 2,505,000 jobs in 2006, with about 59% of RN nursing jobs in hospitals, 8% in physician offices, 5% in nursing care facilities, with the remaining RN nurses working in home health care services, employment services, residential care facilities, community care facilities for the elderly, outpatient care centers, Federal, State, and local government agencies. Approximately 21% of the RN jobs were part-time positions.

Registered Nurse median annual earnings was $57,280 as of May 2006. Where you live within the U.S. and the industry for which you work will greatly impact your salary as a RN. The report from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that the lowest 10% of RN nurses earned less than $40,250 while the highest 10% earned more than $83,440. Below is a short list of median annual earnings for RN nurses by industry.

Employment services $64,260
General medical and surgical hospitals $58,550
Home health care services $54,190
Offices of physicians $53,800
Nursing care facilities $52,490

Registered Nurse and all nursing careers are somewhat dynamic and constantly changing. Medicine and patient care, for example, continues to improve over time. Health care service providers like most businesses face financial and budgetary constraints alongside state and federal practice guidelines. Healthcare industry changes, state licensure restrictions, RN work settings, specialties, and emergency medical situations are just examples of ways a Registered Nurse duties may change. While exploring a career as a Registered Nurse, we recommend that you talk to RN nurses currently working at a nearby facility, potential employers, and to search for Registered Nurse jobs online to review job descriptions and requirements.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupation Outlook Handbook 2008 - 2009 Edition

Related About Nursing Pages:
» Nursing Careers
» Nursing Schools
» Nursing Programs
» Nursing Degrees
» Board of Nursing
» Nursing Jobs

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