Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Registered Nurse

Find Schools Near

Life As a Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse (RN) Definition 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?

  • Consult with institutions or associations regarding issues or concerns relevant to the practice and profession of nursing.
  • Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
  • Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
  • Direct or coordinate infection control programs, advising or consulting with specified personnel about necessary precautions.
  • Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
  • Perform administrative or managerial functions, such as taking responsibility for a unit’s staff, budget, planning, or long-range goals.

What a Registered Nurse (RN) Should Know

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.

  • Delivery Room Supervisor
  • Maternity Nurse
  • Ward Nurse
  • Obstetrics Scrub Nurse (OB Scrub Nurse)
  • Delivery Nurse

Registered Nurse (RN) Job Outlook

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.

undefined

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.

Registered Nurse (RN) Salary

The salary for Registered Nurses ranges between about $50,800 and $106,530 a year.

undefined

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

How much do Registered Nurses make 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 & Technology 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
  • LinkedIn
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
  • Medical condition coding software

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

Are there Registered Nurses education requirements?

undefined

What work experience do I need to become a Registered Nurse (RN)?

undefined

Who Employs Registered Nurses?

undefined

Registered Nurses work in the following industries:

undefined

Those thinking about becoming a Registered Nurse might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.