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Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse (RN) Job Description
A Registered Nurse is a nursing professional who has earned, at minimum, an associate degree or a diploma in nursing. To become registered and licensed to practice nursing, they must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Once qualified, these nurses perform a wide variety of functions throughout the healthcare industry.
The responsibilities of RNs can depend on the type of healthcare facility and role they pursue. In addition to patient care, RNs act as patient and family educators, and work closely with healthcare teams to conduct assessments, develop patient care plans, administer medicine, and perform administrative tasks.
RNs can pursue a career in nursing in all types of healthcare settings. Hospitals alone can provide opportunities in emergency rooms, surgical, and intensive care units. Other types of facilities include outpatient clinics, long-term care, home health care, and private business. RNs may even find work in public health working for government agencies or non-profit organizations.
Below you can take a closer look at the core job responsibilities of registered nurses. You can also find career outlook details, training requirements, and other critical information you need to make the best decision for your career in nursing.
RN Job Responsibilities
The duties performed by a Registered Nurse depends largely on where they work and the regulations imposed by Nursing Boards in each state. However, there are some general duties that apply in most employment settings, including:
- Evaluate and record patient symptoms
- Provide and coordinate patient care
- Administer medications and treatments
- Assist doctors during exams, surgeries and other tasks
- Apply dressings to wounds and incisions
- Operate and monitor medical equipment
- Assist in diagnostic tests and analysis of results
- Educate and advise patients about self-care, medical plan details, health conditions, and general health and well-being
- Educate patients and their families on managing illnesses and injuries
- Review medical treatment plans and evaluate patient progress
- Collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- Serve as a supervisor to licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and other staff
Related Employment Settings
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of registered nurses are as follows: hospitals; state, local, and private, ambulatory healthcare services, nursing and residential care facilities, and educational services; state, local, and private.
Ambulatory healthcare services include industries such as physicians’ offices, home healthcare, and outpatient care centers. Nurses who work in home health travel to patients’ homes; public health nurses may travel to community centers, schools, and other sites.
Some nurses travel frequently in the United States and throughout the world to help care for patients in places where there are not enough healthcare workers.
Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shares that employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 193,100 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people.
Registered nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity. Job growth is expected across most types of healthcare settings, including hospitals and outpatient care centers that provide same-day services, such as chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and surgery. In addition, because many older people prefer to be treated at home or in residential care facilities, registered nurses will be in demand in those settings.
Additional Resources to Help You Choose the Right Program
There are so many things to think about when considering a career as a registered nurse. The field of healthcare is so dynamic and ever-changing, and budding with innovation and new technology, it can be hard to keep up. Be sure to check out our other resources for people like yourself who may need more insight. We have several articles about many helpful topics, including nurse specialties, unique nursing jobs you can pursue, creative career options, common questions answered, and more.
Become an RN: Faster ADN or In-Depth BSN?
Becoming a Registered Nurse means earning a nursing degree, either an associate degree (ADN) or a bachelor’s (BSN). Registered Nurses who graduate with an associate degree are qualified to pursue entry-level nursing positions in employment settings like hospitals, outpatient centers, and physicians’ offices.
Many students see a benefit in starting with an ADN program to get into a career as quickly as possible. From there, students often enroll in a BSN program to further expand their opportunities. Plus, starting work before your bachelor’s program can help enhance your education when you decide to continue.
RNs who graduate with a bachelor’s degree generally have more career options, including supervisory or administrative positions and specialty nursing fields, such as surgical nursing, intensive care, pediatrics, geriatrics or dialysis, among many others. BSN programs also include management-level and leadership learning outcomes. Having your BSN also gives you an advantage when applying for work, when compared to candidates with an associate degree.
Many RNs begin their career by earning a Nursing Associate Degree with Bryant & Stratton College. This degree program uses a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction to provide students with a solid foundation of the skills and knowledge they need to become safe and effective entry-level nurses. It also prepares them to take the NCLEX-RN exam after graduation to earn their nursing credentials.
From there, many RNs continue their education while working in the nursing field, earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing with our RN to BSN Bachelor’s Degree program. This prepares them for more demanding roles by developing a stronger foundation in skills beyond the strict clinical side of the nursing profession, including vital research and leadership skills, providing opportunities for advancement as they build their careers.
Earning your BSN can also be a stepping stone towards graduate-level programs and becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
Practical Nurse vs Registered Nurse
To put it simply, you can become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) by earning a practical nursing diploma and passing the certification exam. To become a registered nurse (RN), you will need to complete an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. Practical nurses do not have the same scope of work as RNs, who play an active role in developing patient care plans, and other higher-level tasks. However, becoming an LPN is a great way to get your healthcare career started. It can be your first step toward becoming a registered nurse!
Nurse Practitioner vs Registered Nurse
To become a nurse practitioner (NP), you will need to earn a graduate-level degree in nursing and pass the relevant board exams that apply to your education. You can become a registered nurse with an bachelor’s or associate degree in nursing. An NP has greater authority to oversee patient care than RNs. There are a wide range of clinical specialties that NPs can pursue. This can result in a wider variety of career opportunities and higher salary potential.
Additional Training/Requirements
Additional training and requirements may be necessary for RNs under some circumstances. Criminal background checks are necessary for prospective Registered Nurses, a requirement for licensing. Each state Board of Nursing provides specific requirements for these background checks, which vary to some extent from one state to another. Drug testing is also generally required for Registered Nurse positions, as such testing is a condition of employment in virtually all healthcare settings.
Registered nursing positions often require candidates to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS) and/or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). Some employers may also require that candidates for specialty nursing positions be certified specifically for those specialties through professional associations, which generally involves meeting work experience requirements and passing certification exams.
If you think a career as a Registered Nurse may be right for you, you can find more detailed information on the nursing field by visiting the healthcare degree section on the Bryant & Stratton College blog. There you’ll find further career insights to help you plan your career path into the world of professional nursing.
While these projections can help career-minded people evaluate potential employment fields, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It should not be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither BLS nor Bryant & Stratton College can guarantee employment in any field.
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