RN 101: What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Nurses have always been a symbol of care and compassion whom the healthcare industry can’t do without. They are the ones looking after us in times of illness and the ones making sure to educate us and helping in preventing these illnesses at all times. Whether they work in hospitals, nursing homes, or other facilities where their help is needed, their responsibilities are numerous, yet so are the job’s benefits and rewarding aspects.
With the multitude of roles and specializations in nursing, it is often difficult to fully grasp the roles and job description of a registered nurse. If this career has piqued your interest, further we will elaborate on frequent questions such as what does a registered nurse do, and what to expect in this field of work.
What Is a Registered Nurse?
Registered nurses (RN) are healthcare providers within various medical and community settings. With over 3 million jobs in 2019, this is a gratifying, profitable, and in-demand job. If you are wondering what consists of the registered nurse job description, one could say that they are the ultimate multitaskers of our healthcare system. They work in settings such as:
Hospitals
Doctor’s offices
Nursing homes
Schools and other educational institutions
Prisons
Long-term care facilities
Out of these employers, hospitals make up for 60% of employment of registered nurses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), ambulatory healthcare services 18%, nursing and residential care facilities 7%, government 5%, and educational services 3%.
Registered nurse responsibilities
The work of registered nurses almost always involves direct work with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. So, when one asks what does a nurse do, their duties can vary depending on where they work and who their patients are. In general, their work includes but is not limited to:
Assessing the patients’ health state and conditions
Recording medical histories and current symptoms
Monitoring and recording patients’ vital signs
Monitoring patients’ recovery progress
Administering medications and monitoring for any reactions or side effects in patients
Assisting medical staff during procedures
Cooperating and coordinating with members of a medical team in planning, implementing, and evaluating a patient’s care plan
Drawing patients’ blood and collecting lab work
Assisting with performing diagnostic tests and evaluating the results
Administering and monitoring IV medications
Educating patients and family members on health conditions, treatment, and care plans.
Apart from these responsibilities, it is worth noting that nurses provide much more than medical assistance; they are the familiar face in a hospital and they provide invaluable emotional support to patients and their families in times of uncertainty. For this reason, among other registered nurse roles and qualities, being empathetic is one of the core qualities that they must possess, as their work touches the lives of people every day
Registered Nurse Qualifications
Apart from empathy, the work of a registered nurse comes with a set of qualities and qualifications that they must possess and attain.
License
Being a registered nurse means that you have gained the right to practice nursing in your state. In order to do so, you must obtain a nursing license issued by the state you intend to practice in. The first step of this process is graduating from a nursing program that prepares you with theoretical and practical knowledge, that will then enable you to pass the licensure examination.
The NCLEX-RN exam is a standardized, graded pass-fail test used in all 50 U.S. states issued by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The exam covers various topics that test whether the examinee is knowledgeable in theory and skilled in the practical aspect of nursing, in order to begin practice at an entry-level. The exam is divided into four major categories: the safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.
Each state’s board of nursing will provide any additional specific requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Any further information on the test and the complete list of state boards of nursing can be found here.
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Education and training
Nursing programs from which students graduate in order to qualify for state licensure are mainly three types: a bachelor’s degree, associate’s, or a diploma. While the three study programs are very effective in preparing and qualifying students for entry-level nursing positions, a bachelor’s degree is required the most by employers, especially in hospitals and in administrative, research, consulting, and teaching positions.
Nursing Specialties
Nursing’s field of practice is ever-changing in its scope of work, technologies, and new legislation, therefore registered nurses must adjust to its evolving nature. However, this provides plenty of opportunities for nurses who want to take the next step in their career ladder. After working as a registered nurse, additional education and training can qualify them for more advanced nursing positions. Some of them include the following:
Nurse practitioner
Nurse midwife
Nurse anesthetist
Nurse manager
Nurse educator
Pediatric Nurse
Neonatal Nurse
Gerontology Nurse
Ambulatory Care Nurse
Oncology Nurse
Critical Care Nurse.
Job Outlook
The increased awareness of preventative care for health issues, the rising rates of chronic conditions, the increased longevity with each generation, and similar reasons, have all contributed to the growth in demand for healthcare services. Consequently, there is a growing demand for registered nurses, whose employment is projected to grow by 7% from 2019 to 2029, which is a faster growth rate than the average of all occupations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics moreover projects that there will be about 175,900 job openings for registered nurses each year, making this a profession with plenty of employment opportunities and job security.
Salary
There are numerous factors—such as location, work experience, education, and employer—which must be taken into consideration when determining a registered nurse’s salary. In general, jobs in nursing offer a stable income and overall financial security. According to BLS, the median annual salary for registered nurses is around $75,330, the lowest 10% earning less than $53,410 annually, whereas the highest 10% earn more than $116,230.
Personal satisfaction, career prospects, growth opportunities, stable income, and work flexibility, are some of the many reasons why becoming a registered nurse can be a wise career choice. After finding the answers to questions such as what does a nurse do and what responsibilities to expect in this profession, we hope to have addressed any uncertainties and encourage you to further explore this rewarding field of work.