OVERVIEW
What is a Registered Nurse?
听
Registered nurses carry the healthcare system. They work directly under the direction of lead doctors and enable doctors to care for more patients.
A registered nurse (also called RN) is an individual who has a nursing diploma and has passed听听administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Nurses undergo intense education to ensure they understand the best health practices and know the best care for their patients.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), there are over听. Nearly 58% of RNs work in general medicine and surgical hospitals. They also work in private practices, clinics, military hospitals, and healthcare research.听
The AACN also reports that there are nearly three times as many RNs than physicians in the United States. Because there are three nurses per doctor, nurses perform a majority of services within healthcare.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a听Registered Nurse Do?
Registered nurses carry the healthcare system. They work directly under the direction of lead doctors and enable doctors to care for more patients.
A registered nurse (also called RN) is an individual who has a nursing diploma and has passed听听administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Nurses undergo intense education to ensure they understand the best health practices and know the best care for their patients.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), there are over听. Nearly 58% of RNs work in general medicine and surgical hospitals. They also work in private practices, clinics, military hospitals, and healthcare research.听
The AACN also reports that there are nearly three times as many RNs than physicians in the United States. Because there are three nurses per doctor, nurses perform a majority of services within healthcare.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Registered Nurse?
Registered nurses have three education options: a nursing diploma, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a听Bachelor of Science in Nursing听(BSN). Nurses who choose to get a diploma or associate degree will be qualified to become RNs after taking the NCLEX exam. However, nurses with a diploma or associate degree are less competitive candidates than those who choose to graduate from a bachelor鈥檚 degree program. It is increasingly common for hospitals and other employers to state 鈥淏SN preferred鈥� on job postings, or even to require diploma or ADN nurses to earn their BSN within a certain amount of time after being hired. Nationally, there is a听, and many states and employers are moving toward adopting this, making it important for prospective nurses to consider attaining their BSN as part of their journey to nurse certification.
Current RNs without a bachelor鈥檚 degree can expand their careers by taking an听RN to BSN program. RN to BSN programs are designed for registered nurses who want to progress further in their careers.
After earning your diploma or degree, there are additional steps to becoming a licensed nurse. Different states will have unique requirements for registered nurses, so it鈥檚 important to research the requirements in your state. In general, however, nurses must meet the following requirements:
- Obtain their education.听Nursing candidates will need to find a diploma program, associate degree program, or BSN program that meets the requirements of their states. In their program they will learn vital skills and gain experience in nursing.
- Complete clinical hours. In order to be prepared for the rigors of being an RN, nurses must gain experience with patients in hospitals and other settings. These clinical hours are vital to success in nursing.听
- Pass the NCLEX exam.听All RNs must take the NCLEX exam offered through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The test is offered to entry-level nurses.听
- RN licensure.听Each state requires nurses to get an听. Most states have their own Board of Nursing. For example, RNs in Alabama are licensed by the Alabama Board of Nursing.听
- Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).听Nurses who plan to travel from state to state can earn an NLC, which is a multi-state nursing license. The NCSBN provides information on听.听
You should also check with your state board to ensure that you鈥檙e receiving the proper certifications and licenses to practice in your state.
Best Degrees for a听Registered Nurse
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) 鈥� B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations:听Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of听Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition:听$8,755 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time:听This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- 黑料传送门 offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our听Bachelor's in Health and Human Services听instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) 鈥� B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time:听The program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
- Tuition:听$5,325 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 that you will learn in this program:
- Healthcare Policy and Economics
- Information Technology in Nursing Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Applied Healthcare Statistics
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services听instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
How Much Does a听Registered Nurse Make?
$81,220
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),听, or $39.05 per hour. Yearly wages vary depending on location, field, and years of experience.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
6%
Nurses are always in high demand.听 between the 2022 to 2032 period alone.听As the U.S. population continues to age, there will be more health conditions related to age, such as arthritis, dementia, diabetes, and obesity.听
听
SKILLS
What Skills Does a听Registered Nurse Need?
Registered nurses are hardworking and dedicated individuals. Many have on-call positions and work extended shifts to meet the needs of their hospitals. RNs needs to have the following skills if they want to excel in their positions:听
- Stress management.听RNs work long hours in stressful situations. ER nurses must maintain constant vigilance while controlling their stress levels, even while working amid a constant emergency.
- Organizational skills.听In some settings, there are six patients per nurse. To ensure that all patients are getting the help they need, nurses must be able to keep their schedules organized.
- Critical Thinking. RNs must be able to be responsible in their care and precision.
- Communication skills.听A large part of a nurse鈥檚 job is communication. They must be able to communicate with doctors and other nurses as well as their patients.
- Alertness and observance.听A mandatory requirement for nurses is to stay alert and observant. If a nurse delays or panics, the patient鈥檚 life could be endangered.
- Physical and mental endurance.听Nurses without physical and mental endurance may experience 鈥渘urse burnout鈥� from working long shifts with understaffed teams.
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at 黑料传送门 year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree鈥攕ooner than you might think!
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