Registered Nurses: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Registered Nurses Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of registered nurses cover:
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful registered nurses rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Registered Nurses Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse)
- Cardiac Nurse Specialist
- Central Supply Nurse
- Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR)
- Charge Nurse
- Circulating Nurse
- Community Health Nurse
- Consultant Nurse
How Many Registered Nurses Are There?
There are roughly 3,442,343 registered nurses working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +10.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Registered Nurses
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $105,741 |
| Hourly median | $50.84 |
| 10th percentile | $62,106 |
| 25th percentile | $83,923 |
| 75th percentile | $127,558 |
| 90th percentile | $149,375 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Registered Nurses Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,330 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $123,990 |
| Washington | $112,180 |
| Alaska | $110,690 |
| New York | $105,600 |
| District of Columbia | $104,550 |
| New Jersey | $102,730 |
| Nevada | $101,990 |
| Massachusetts | $101,970 |
| Connecticut | $101,590 |
| Minnesota | $100,870 |
| Rhode Island | $99,960 |
| Arizona | $96,890 |
| Maryland | $96,830 |
| New Hampshire | $96,830 |
| Colorado | $96,520 |
| Delaware | $92,610 |
| Texas | $90,010 |
| Virginia | $88,820 |
| New Mexico | $88,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,610 |
| Georgia | $86,560 |
| Illinois | $86,410 |
| Idaho | $86,100 |
| Wisconsin | $86,070 |
| Michigan | $85,670 |
| Vermont | $85,150 |
| Maine | $82,860 |
| Florida | $82,850 |
| Utah | $82,270 |
| North Carolina | $81,860 |
| Wyoming | $81,790 |
| Montana | $81,560 |
| Ohio | $81,250 |
| Oklahoma | $81,160 |
| Nebraska | $81,020 |
| Indiana | $80,740 |
| West Virginia | $79,990 |
| Kentucky | $79,910 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 |
| Missouri | $79,770 |
| Tennessee | $79,030 |
| Louisiana | $78,880 |
| North Dakota | $78,260 |
| Kansas | $78,060 |
| Arkansas | $77,130 |
| Iowa | $76,960 |
| Mississippi | $74,470 |
| Virgin Islands | $73,890 |
| Alabama | $71,040 |
| South Dakota | $69,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,780 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for registered nurses differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $132,415 | 14.5% | 0.87 |
| New England | $98,890 | 5.4% | 1.14 |
| Middle Atlantic | $98,793 | 15.7% | 1.04 |
| Southwest | $90,333 | 11.4% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $89,709 | 3.3% | 0.84 |
| Great Lakes | $84,078 | 15.6% | 1.10 |
| Plains States | $84,012 | 7.7% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $81,528 | 25.6% | 1.05 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $208,940 | 21,460 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $192,470 | 4,410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $188,020 | 40,750 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $172,390 | 3,770 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $169,460 | 5,260 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $169,210 | 23,400 |
| Yuba City, CA | CA | $144,220 | 1,070 |
Which Industries Hire Registered Nurses
The bulk of registered nurses are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,790,380 | $93,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 134,180 | $95,870 |
| Educational Services | 89,070 | $74,360 |
| Finance and Insurance | 48,100 | $89,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 21,530 | $95,070 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 14,310 | $96,360 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4,750 | $80,060 |
| Retail Trade | 4,500 | $94,880 |
Registered Nurses work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Apache Spark (hot technology)
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Medical software: Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
- Time accounting software: Kronos Workforce Timekeeper (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of registered nurses reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How to Become Registered Nurses
Typical registered nurses positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Primary-Long)
- Acute Care Nurses (Primary-Short)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Critical Care Nurses (Primary-Short)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Midwives (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Practitioners (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future registered nurses typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
21 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1141.00 (Registered Nurses).
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