Registered Nurse Career Path And Overview

In addition to above core job duties, registered nurses may have additional job duties specific to their specialization (Example: Oncology nurses, Geriatic nurses, Pediatric nurses, etc.)

Registered nurses job duties will also depend on the where they work (Example: hospitals, nursing and home care facilities, outpatient care centers, government services, educational services, etc.)

Registered nurses must have good communication skills to effectively instruct patients and families on care and treatment instructions.

Registered nurses must have good organizational skills to take care of multiple patients, and must be detail oriented to ensure patients receive the correct and precise treatments and medicines, and at the right time.

Registered nurses will be in close touch with human suffering and emergencies and they must be emotionally resiliant to cope with this stress. In addition they should have empathy and compassion to be able to care for the patients.

Registered nurses must be physically fit and must have stamina to be on their feet for most of their shift. They should be able to perform physical tasks including lifting and moving patients.

Registered nurses in USA earned a median of $77,600 in May 2021. i.e. half of registered nurses earned below $77,600 and half earned above that.

The lowest 10% registered nurses earned less than $59,450 and the highest 10% earned more than $120,250.

The mean annual wage for registered nurses is $82,750

The salary of registered nurses vary widely based on the job location and experience. The mean annual wage in california is $124,000 while that in Florida is $72,000.

Number of jobs for registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031, with about 203,200 openings expected each year, over the next 10 years.

This projected growth is attributed to the increasing number of older people who would need nursing care.

Some of this growth is also attributed to the expected need to replace registered nurses who retire or move to other occupations.

Entry level nurse jobs require a diploma, associate, or a bachelor's degree along with a nursing license.

Though diploma is the minimum degree required, most employers, specially hospitals, require a bachelor's degree and hence most nurses with a diploma or an associate's degree go back to school to get a bachelor's degree.

Bachelor's degree is also required to grow in the nursing career, specialize as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), or oversee other registered nurses

Master's degree in nursing is required in certain leadership positions in hospitals as well as in government.