2. Registered nurses (RNs), regardless of specialty or work setting, treat patients, educate
patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and
emotional support to patients’ family members. Registered Nurses care for patients in a
variety of settings; hospitals, nursing homes and home care agencies all employ RNs for
patient care. RNs have a very important role and are often the sole individual in charge
during a shift in the facility. Some nurses also are heads of departments, such as skin
care, infection control and general health, in medical facilities. Some nurses have jobs
that require little or no direct patient care, but still require an active RN license. Here is a
breakdown of the various tasks/duties assigned to a RN:
Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's
condition.
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
Direct and supervise less skilled nursing/health care personnel, or supervise a
particular unit on one shift.
Prepare patients for, and assist with, examinations and treatments.
Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure that proper nursing care is provided.
Assess the needs of individuals, families and/or communities, including
assessment of individuals' home and/or work environments to identify potential
health or safety problems.
Instruct individuals, families and other groups on topics such as health education,
disease prevention and childbirth, and develop health improvement programs.
Prepare rooms, sterile instruments, equipment and supplies, and ensure that
stock of supplies is maintained.
Inform physician of patient's condition during anesthesia.
Deliver infants and provide prenatal and postpartum care and treatment under
obstetrician's supervision.
Administer local, inhalation, intravenous, and other anesthetics.
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations and assistance in convalescence
and rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, and industry.
Perform physical examinations, make tentative diagnoses, and treat patients in
route to hospitals or at disaster site triage centers.
Conduct specified laboratory tests.
…the tasks for an RN are endless.
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3. Aspiring RNs can choose to pursue an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a
bachelor's degree in nursing. Some educational programs can be interwoven; an
individual who has earned an associate's degree, for instance, may pursue a Bachelor
of Science in Nursing (BSN) at any point in their careers by enrolling in an RN-to-BSN
program. Coursework in many RN programs cover the common work duties a
registered nurse is expected to perform. Initial courses are heavy on basic healthcare
principles and science.
Common program courses include:
•Health assessment
•Nursing types
•Patient care
•Child and infant care
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A REGISTERED NURSE IS COMPLETING A SUPERVISED
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE AT A HOSPITAL, CLINIC OR HEALTHCARE FACILITY. AN EXPERIENCED
PROFESSIONAL OVERSEES THE STUDENT'S WORK AND OFFERS ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION ON NURSING DUTIES,
PROTOCOL AND OTHER PROCEDURES.
Individuals who have completed an ADN program and have obtained licensure as a
registered nurse are equipped to work in the field. However, a BSN is required if a nurse
wants to advance in the profession. Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
degree may lead to career advancement opportunities, such as clinical nurse
specialist, anesthetist nurse, midwife nurse and nurse practitioner.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (www.ncsbn.org) requires all nurses who
work in the United States to be licensed and/or registered. These requirements involve
graduating from an approved educational program and completing the licensure
examination. The National Council Licensure Examination includes both written and
practical tests, to ensure that future RNs are properly educated and prepared to
perform work duties. Additional licensure requirements may vary from state to state.
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4. These numbers are only an average for all Staff Nurse - RN jobs in the United States. The
median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse - RN in the United States is $65,838.
Staff Nurse - RN - U.S. National Averages Base pay only
10th% 25th% 75th% 90th%
$54,432 $59,868 $72,456 $78,482
With about 2.2 million registered nurses employed in 2000, the career field is the largest
in the health care industry. 60% of registered nurses are employed in hospitals, with the
remainder employed in physician's offices and clinics, long term care facilities, and by
social service and governmental agencies. Employment of registered nurses is
expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for
all occupations. Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care,
which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing
emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people, who are much
more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly.
However, employment of RNs will not grow at the same rate in every industry. The
projected growth rates for RNs in the industries with the highest employment of these
workers are:
Offices of physicians- 48%, Home health care services- 33%, Nursing care facilities- 25%,
Employment services- 24%, Hospitals, public and private- 17%
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5. Most RNs begin as staff nurses in hospitals and, with experience and good
performance, often move to other settings or are promoted to positions with more
responsibility. In management, nurses can advance from assistant unit manager or
head nurse to more senior-level administrative roles of assistant director, director, vice
president, or chief of nursing. Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a
graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration.
Administrative positions require leadership, communication and negotiation skills, and
good judgment.
Some RNs choose to become advanced practice nurses, who work independently or in
collaboration with physicians, and may focus on providing primary care services. There
are four types of advanced practice nurses: clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists,
nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners. Clinical nurse specialists provide direct patient
care and expert consultations in one of many nursing specialties, such as psychiatric-
mental health. Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia and related care before and after
surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures. They also provide pain
management and emergency services, such as airway management. Nurse-midwives
provide primary care to women, including gynecological exams, family planning
advice, prenatal care, assistance in labor and delivery, and neonatal care. Nurse
practitioners serve as primary and specialty care providers, providing a blend of nursing
and healthcare services to patients and families.
All four types of advanced practice nurses require at least a master's degree. In
addition, all States specifically define requirements for registered nurses in advanced
practice roles. Advanced practice nurses may prescribe medicine, but the authority to
prescribe varies by State. Contact your State’s board of nursing for specific regulations
regarding advanced practice nurses. Because of the number of specialties for
registered nurses, and the variety of responsibilities and duties, many other healthcare
occupations are similar in some aspects of their job. Some healthcare occupations with
similar levels of responsibility that work under the direction of physicians or dentists are:
Dental hygienists
Diagnostic medical sonographers
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Physician assistants
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