Life As a Registered Nurse
Position 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.
Life As a Registered Nurse (RN): What Do They Do?
- Record patients’ medical information and vital signs.
- Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
- Hand items to surgeons during operations.
- Perform administrative or managerial functions, such as taking responsibility for a unit’s staff, budget, planning, or long-range goals.
- Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
- Perform physical examinations, make tentative diagnoses, and treat patients en route to hospitals or at disaster site triage centers.
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Registered Nurse (RN) Skills
When polled, Registered Nurses say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse (PACU RN)
- Forensic Nurse
- Surgical Nurse
- Surgical Supervisor
- Clinical Supervisor
Are There Job Opportunities for Registered Nurses?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 2,955,200 jobs in the United States for Registered Nurse. 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.
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.
What is the Average Salary of a Registered Nurse (RN)
The average yearly salary of a Registered Nurse (RN) ranges between $50,800 and $106,530.
Registered Nurses who work in Hawaii, California, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Registered Nurses in different U.S. states.
| 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 do Registered Nurses Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Registered Nurses may use on a daily basis:
- 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
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Medical condition coding software
Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)
Individuals working as a Registered Nurse have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Registered Nurse (RN)?
Where do Registered Nurses Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Registered Nurse might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
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