Become A Registered Nurse

Registered nurses assist patients in coping with illness, advocate for patients, families, and communities, and promote awareness of health-related issues. They report their patient observations to physicians, help surgeons perform operations, administer medications, and assist patient with rehabilitation. The range of tasks they may perform is restricted by State law, and determined by the type of facility they work in, including hospitals, physician's offices, surgical centers, clinics, long-term rehabilitation units, private homes, government agencies, schools, and worksites.

Job Skills

Registered nurses need to have well-developed communication skills, and the ability to observe accurately and make decisions accordingly. They must be willing to work with a team, as well as supervise others. Due to the intense nature of the work, registered nurses should be emotionally stable and have a sympathetic disposition.

Income

In 2002, registered nurses earned a median annual salary of $48,090. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10 percent, who earned less than $33,970, and the highest 10 percent, who earned more than $69,670. The highest annual salary was found in employment services, and the lowest was found in nursing care facilities.

Training and Education

In order to obtain a nursing license, which is required by all 50 States and the District of Columbia, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination. Candidates have three different options for educational paths leading to certification as a registered nurse. The first option is obtaining a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN). BSN programs are offered through colleges and universities and take 4 years to complete,. The second option is an associate degree in nursing (ADN), offered through junior and community colleges, which takes 2 to 3 years to complete. The third option is a 3-year diploma program administered by hospitals. All three types of programs qualify students to be hired as a registered nurse, but BSNs provide graduates with the most opportunity for advancement within the nursing profession. In fact many nurses certified through ADN or diploma programs go on to enter bachelor's programs.

Many different colleges and universities provide the training required to become a registered nurse. A good list of such institutions can be found on this page of college and universities offering information on Nursing Schools and related training.

Employment

In 2002, registered nurses held approximately 2.3 million jobs, making the occupation the largest in the healthcare field. A majority of jobs were held in hospitals.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of registered nurses is expected to increase faster than the average. More new RN jobs are expected to be created than any other occupation, mostly because of the need to replace aging registered nurses as they leave the profession. Factors such as the growing elderly population, general growth of healthcare, rising median age of registered nurses, increased emphasis on preventative treatment, technological advances will keep registered nurses in high demand.