How to Become a Registered Nurse
Updated on January 15, 2024
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With over 3 million active registered nurses nationwide, registered nurses constitute the largest healthcare occupation in the U.S. Still, projections point to over 195,000 new RN openings annually over the next decade due to aging populations and elevated demand. This continuous need means abundant, rewarding registered nursing jobs for dedicated graduates from accredited programs. After passing rigorous licensing exams, aspiring registered nurses can leverage compassion, patient advocacy abilities, organizational skills, and medical knowledge to deliver around-the-clock supportive treatments, helping stabilize and heal individuals in vulnerable states across diverse clinical settings.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Registered nurses (RNs) deliver vital, round-the-clock supportive treatments and monitor patients suffering issues from chronic conditions to traumatic injuries, including:
- Conducting health histories, symptom assessments, and recording vitals to create care plans
- Administering medications/tests/treatments prescribed by licensed providers
- Closely tracking progression monitoring for potential complications
- Educating patients and families on managing illnesses and safe discharge care
- Coordinating care conferences with cross-functional medical teams
- Advocating to ensure the highest quality outcomes
RNs provide critical holistic care bridging illness onset through recovery stages – establishing trusted relationships along the way.
Specialized Nursing Education Required
Those seeking RN roles must earn either:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – Typically, 2-year community college programs covering fundamentals from anatomy to interventions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Broader 4-year university-level education additionally encompassing research, leadership, and evidence-based practice.
Both diplomas qualify graduates to sit for RN licensing examinations before legally practicing. Ambitious learners manage accelerated RN-to-BSN bridge completion, upgrading skills and pay.
Clinical practicums across nursing specialties like pediatrics, oncology, or emergency give vital experience. Programs connected to large teaching hospitals facilitate rotations, seeing diverse issues and mentors.
Earning RN Licensure
All states mandate nurses pass national plus state-specific competency testing before independently handling patients. Two key steps:
Pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX)
This comprehensive RN assessment evaluates clinical judgment through challenging questions on care coordination, safety, nursing ethics, and interventions.
Become Licensed In-State
Submitting transcripts and applications to State Boards of Nursing leads to approved registration legally required for hire across healthcare settings after passing NCLEX.
Finding RN Positions
Insatiable demand exists for RNs within:
- Hospital departments like pediatrics, oncology, emergency trauma, intensive care, labor wings
- Outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, blood banks
- School health offices overseeing public student populations
- Home health roles caring for house-bound patients
- Government entities like health departments or military
Understanding Key RN Responsibilities
Core nursing activities depend upon specialty environments but center on:
- Obtaining health histories/vital signs assessing symptom statuses and changes
- Administering oral/topical medications, injections, wound dressings/treatments per physician orders
- Monitoring patient reactions and intervening for adverse responses
- Educating on self-care needs post-discharge like diet, prescriptions, activity levels
- Coordinating across teams clarifying care plans for maximal healing
RN duties require compassion, organization, attention to detail, science acumen, and grace under pressure.
Career Advancement Prospects
Bedside nursing enables opportunities to specialize, such as:
- Nurse managers overseeing hospital unit staff plus budgets/policies
- Certified nurses concentrating completely on fields like oncology or pediatrics
- Clinical research nurses coordinating groundbreaking drug trial cases
- Forensics investigatory nurses helping solve crimes
Nurses pursuing academia pursue Master/Ph.D. degrees, becoming faculty publishing noted research or deans guiding curriculum/programs.
Income Outlook for RNs
| Years of Experience | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | $50,000 – $60,000 |
| 1-4 years | $55,000 – $65,000 |
| 5-9 years | $60,000 – $70,000 |
| 10-19 years | $65,000 – $75,000 |
| 20+ years | $70,000 – $80,000+ |
Networking Creates Community
Tight-knit state/national RN guilds foster invaluable idea exchanges through:
- Attending annual Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses conferences
- Following nurse influencers sharing experiences
Connections translate into clinical collaborations, research coauthorships, and priceless mentorships furthering expertise.
In summary, few careers blend such immense professional purpose and advancement potential as registered nursing. Launch life-altering RN roles through accredited degree programs, license testing, and impactful specialty placements, bettering patient lives for generations.