Registered nurses provide direct patient care, advocate for their patients well being, and act as a link between doctors, patients, and families. If you’re considering a healthcare career that offers a unique challenge, something new every day, and the chance to make a real difference, then being a registered nurse is perfect for you.
This blog is your complete guide to registered nurses. We’ll talk about the specifics of what makes this profession so rewarding, explore educational options, and look into different specializations.
Table of Contents
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
A Registered Nurse (RN) is a licensed healthcare professional who provides essential patient care. They have completed a nursing program, passed a national licensing exam (NCLEX-RN), and are authorized to practice nursing in a specific jurisdiction
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Directing Patient Care
A registered nurse assesses vital signs, administers medications, monitors patients, performs wound care, and educates patients on their health conditions are just a few examples. RNs are extremely busy people and their roles can vary depending on the care setting and even by state.
Patient Advocacy
RNs ensure patients understand their treatment plans and answer their questions. They will advocate for their patients’ needs and help promote their overall well-being.
Collaboration
Nurses work closely with doctors, therapists, LPNs, CNAs, and other healthcare professionals. They work together to accomplish the same goal, ensuring patients receive the best care possible.
RNs work in a lot of different care settings, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care, schools, and home healthcare. There are a lot of options for registered nurses to travel and experience each of these care settings. Just because you start off working in long-term care doesn’t mean that you will be stuck there forever, so don’t hesitate to get your foot in the door, even if it isn’t your ideal spot.
What Education Do You Need to Become a Registered Nurse?
The nursing school experience can be both challenging and rewarding. Students will face a demanding curriculum, long hours, and high levels of stress. However, the opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference in people’s lives are extremely fulfilling.
Clinical rotations are a crucial component of nursing education, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. These rotations can be physically and emotionally demanding, but they provide invaluable hands-on experience.
There are two pathways to becoming a registered nurse, either way, it starts with education. Here are the two main options:
Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)
The associate degree is a two-year program that provides students with the fundamental skills and knowledge to practice nursing at the entry level. Since the program is only two years long, it’s a good option for people who want to start working as a nurse as soon as possible.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
A bachelor’s degree in nursing is a four-year program that offers a larger foundation and covers more advanced nursing topics. Even though having a bachelor’s degree isn’t required, it is becoming the preferred choice by employers. Having your bachelor’s degree can also help open more doors for leadership roles, and specialization.
Some things to keep in mind:
Prerequisites: Most nursing schools require specific prerequisite courses like biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and psychology.
Clinical experience: Both ADN and BSN programs include supervised clinical rotations in different healthcare settings. This gives you the chance to try out different care settings and solidifies your classroom learning.
NCLEX-RN: After completing nursing school you still have to pass your NCLEX-RN before you can start practicing as a registered nurse. The test helps ensure that it’s safe for you to practice as an RN.
You don’t have to stop there: If you love being a nurse, you can continue your education and get a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN). An MSN program lets you specialize in areas like nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse leader. When nurses complete an MSN program, they open doors to earn higher pay, expanded practice opportunities, and leadership roles.
Recommended read: Writing the Best Registered Nurse Resume
Nursing Specializations
Registered nurses who want to continue their education have the chance to specialize which allows them to focus on specific patient populations, medical conditions, or healthcare settings. Here are some of the most popular options:
Medical-Surgical: Surgical nurses care for adult patients who are undergoing surgery or receiving treatment for various medical conditions.
Critical Care: Nurses working in Intensive care units (ICUs) provide specialized care to critically ill patients.
Pediatric Nursing: These nurses care for children, from infants to adolescents. This requires a specific skill set and knowledge base. Pediatric nurses understand the unique needs of younger children.
Labor and Delivery: Help care for women throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.
Mental Health Nursing: Mental health nurses work in various settings, including inpatient psychiatric facilities and community clinics. They require specialized knowledge in mental health to help treat patients who are living with mental health problems.
Choosing the right specialization will take time, so don’t be afraid to work around certain care settings until you know what you want to specialize in.
What Makes a Great RN?
The best nurses possess a combination of technical skills, relational qualities, and a passion for helping people. Here are some of the things that can help make a good nurse great:
Strong communication skills: RNs have to be able to communicate effectively. They talk to everyone from patients to doctors and need to be able to change their language based on who they are talking to.
Critical thinking: Nurses have to be able to make decisions quickly based on their assessment and analysis of their patients.
Compassion and empathy: Building a relationship with your patients is really important. The more comfortable your patients feel with you the easier it will be to understand what they’re going through and provide the best care possible.
Attention to detail: Nurses deal with medications, and need to have strong attention to detail skills so they can make sure they aren’t giving patients inaccurate doses. They also use attention to detail to monitor patients.
Teamwork: As I previously mentioned, nurses work closely with a lot of other positions in healthcare.
The world of nursing offers a fulfilling career path for those passionate about patient care. With a variety of educational options, specialization opportunities, and diverse work settings, nursing allows you to tailor your career to your interests and goals.
If you possess the qualities of a successful RN – strong communication, critical thinking, compassion, and a collaborative spirit – then a rewarding future in healthcare awaits. Remember, the first step is research! Explore the different nursing specialties, talk to current nurses, and see if this path resonates with you.
Registered Nurse Salary by State
| State | Annual Salary | Hourly Rate |
| Alabama | $73,088 | $35.14 |
| Alaska | $97,825 | $47.03 |
| Arizona | $75,145 | $36.13 |
| Arkansas | $72,575 | $34.89 |
| California | $81,927 | $39.39 |
| Colorado | $91,901 | $44.18 |
| Connecticut | $90,509 | $43.51 |
| Delaware | $86,556 | $41.61 |
| Florida | $60,258 | $28.97 |
| Georgia | $68,088 | $32.73 |
| Hawaii | $95,542 | $45.93 |
| Idaho | $78,330 | $37.66 |
| Illinois | $85,051 | $40.89 |
| Indiana | $76,732 | $36.89 |
| Iowa | $74,409 | $35.77 |
| Kansas | $83,265 | $40.03 |
| Kentucky | $76,711 | $36.88 |
| Louisiana | $67,921 | $32.65 |
| Maine | $80,072 | $38.50 |
| Maryland | $83,843 | $40.31 |
| Massachusetts | $97,017 | $46.64 |
| Michigan | $76,095 | $36.58 |
| Minnesota | $77,793 | $37.40 |
| Mississippi | $88,494 | $42.55 |
| Missouri | $81,466 | $39.17 |
| Montana | $74,012 | $35.58 |
| Nebraska | $82,102 | $39.47 |
| Nevada | $92,494 | $44.47 |
| New Hampshire | $78,914 | $37.94 |
| New Jersey | $81,212 | $39.04 |
| New Mexico | $77,290 | $37.16 |
| New York | $88,614 | $42.60 |
| North Carolina | $79,071 | $38.02 |
| North Dakota | $97,560 | $46.90 |
| Ohio | $75,598 | $36.35 |
| Oklahoma | $79,509 | $38.23 |
| Oregon | $97,974 | $47.10 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,180 | $39.03 |
| Rhode Island | $90,748 | $43.63 |
| South Carolina | $80,737 | $38.82 |
| South Dakota | $92,205 | $44.33 |
| Tennessee | $72,175 | $34.70 |
| Texas | $77,764 | $37.39 |
| Utah | $72,255 | $34.74 |
| Vermont | $86,466 | $41.57 |
| Virginia | $85,371 | $41.04 |
| Washington | $94,914 | $45.63 |
| West Virginia | $62,696 | $30.14 |
| Wisconsin | $80,479 | $38.69 |
| Wyoming | $77,718 | $37.36 |
The nursing profession offers a rewarding and fulfilling career path for individuals who are passionate about helping others. By understanding the education requirements, career opportunities, and challenges associated with nursing, aspiring and current nurses can make informed decisions and thrive in their roles.
