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All About Registered Nurses

Career Description Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

What Do Registered Nurses Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients’ responses and conditions.
  • Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
  • Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
  • Consult with institutions or associations regarding issues or concerns relevant to the practice and profession of nursing.
  • Prescribe or recommend drugs, medical devices, or other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.
  • Administer local, inhalation, intravenous, or other anesthetics.

Registered Nurse (RN) Required Skills

These are the skills Registered Nurses say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Registered Public Health Nurse
  • Clinical Nurse
  • Infection Control Nurse
  • Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse
  • Nurse Educator

What Kind of Registered Nurse (RN) Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 2,955,200 jobs for Registered Nurse in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 438,000 new jobs for Registered Nurse by 2026. The BLS estimates 203,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Registered Nurse (RN) are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Wisconsin, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Registered Nurse (RN) Make?

The average yearly salary of a Registered Nurse (RN) ranges between $50,800 and $106,530.

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Registered Nurses who work in Hawaii, California, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.

How much do Registered Nurses make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $59,470
Alaska $89,310
Arizona $77,000
Arkansas $60,780
California $106,950
Colorado $74,240
Connecticut $81,220
Delaware $74,800
District of Columbia $92,350
Florida $66,210
Georgia $68,950
Hawaii $98,080
Idaho $67,110
Illinois $73,890
Indiana $64,860
Iowa $59,130
Kansas $61,030
Kentucky $63,100
Louisiana $63,970
Maine $67,610
Maryland $76,820
Massachusetts $92,140
Michigan $71,330
Minnesota $78,920
Mississippi $58,490
Missouri $65,130
Montana $67,450
Nebraska $64,470
Nevada $85,620
New Hampshire $72,760
New Jersey $82,750
New Mexico $71,730
New York $85,610
North Carolina $64,850
North Dakota $65,740
Ohio $66,820
Oklahoma $63,080
Oregon $91,080
Pennsylvania $70,390
Rhode Island $78,420
South Carolina $64,940
South Dakota $58,340
Tennessee $61,320
Texas $72,890
Utah $65,670
Vermont $69,160
Virginia $69,790
Washington $82,670
West Virginia $61,780
Wisconsin $71,470
Wyoming $67,360

What Tools & Technology do Registered Nurses Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Registered Nurses:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access
  • Data entry software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • IBM Notes
  • FileMaker Pro
  • MEDITECH software
  • Google Drive
  • Medical procedure coding software
  • Epic Systems
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • LinkedIn
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
  • Medical condition coding software

How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN)

Are there Registered Nurses education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Registered Nurse (RN)?

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Where Registered Nurses Work

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Registered Nurses work in the following industries:

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References:

Image Credit: Aleksahgabrielle via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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