Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Registered Nurse

Find Schools Near

What is a Registered Nurse?

Registered Nurse (RN) Example 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?

  • Conduct specified laboratory tests.
  • Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
  • Perform administrative or managerial functions, such as taking responsibility for a unit’s staff, budget, planning, or long-range goals.
  • Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
  • Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
  • Prescribe or recommend drugs, medical devices, or other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.

Registered Nurse (RN) Required Skills

Registered Nurses state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

  • Psychiatric Nurse
  • Surgical Nurse
  • Telemetry Registered Nurse (Telemetry RN)
  • Visiting Nurse
  • Recovery Room Nurse

Is There Job Demand for Registered Nurses?

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. There will be an estimated 203,700 positions for Registered Nurse (RN) per year.

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.

What is the Average Salary of a Registered Nurse (RN)

The typical yearly salary for Registered Nurses is somewhere between $50,800 and $106,530.

undefined

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 & 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

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

Learn what Registered Nurse education requirements there are.

undefined

How many years of work experience do I need?

undefined

Where Registered Nurses Are Employed

undefined

The table below shows the approximate number of Registered Nurses employed by various 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 Graduate Schools Near You

Our school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S. for free.