What Do You Need to Know to Become a Nurse
How to Become a Registered Nurse
Ashlee Tilford
November 21, 2021
The American healthcare industry is expanding at a rapid pace, creating an firsthand demand for medical professionals. Registered nurses (RNs) are currently in high need for many reasons, including the development of new applied science, an aging population, and current nurses retiring.
When viewing all of these factors alongside the satisfaction that comes from helping people, the benefits of becoming a registered nurse have never been amend. This guide delves into what information technology'southward like to be a registered nurse, outlines available educational paths, highlights skills needed to succeed, reviews current salaries, and provides an interview with a professional person currently working in the field.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
RN Career Nuts
According to the U.Southward. Agency of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 3 one thousand thousand registered nurses are employed in the U.s., and approximately 60% work in hospitals. RNs may also find themselves in clinics, physicians' offices, home health care settings, critical and long-term care facilities, governmental organizations, the military machine, schools, and rehabilitation agencies. The need for registered nurses is expected to grow seven% by 2029.
The increased educational and training requirements of a registered nurse compared to a licensed practical or vocational nurse is significant, only and then is the bump in pay. According Payscale, a registered nurse makes almost xl per centum more than a licensed practical or vocational nurse.
RN Salaries and Job Outlook
Salary Figures
Registered nurses' bounty reflects the high demand and advanced levels of training and education required. Yous may choose to become a nurse for reasons other than financial, but a national boilerplate median salary of $75,330 in 2020 does make registered nursing an attractive career if you lot're looking at the bottom line.
Geographical location and cost of living also affect nurses' income. Beneath is a list of v states with the highest average wage for registered nurses:
- California
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Alaska
- Oregon
Registered Nurse Task Projections
The BLS expects tremendous job growth for registered nurses, with a 7% expansion expected betwixt 2019 and 2029. Several reasons for this exist, including an crumbling population and wider healthcare availability through the Affordable Care Act.
Patients will increasingly need nurses to educate them on and care for their chronic health issues, such as:
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Dementia
The BLS says that the increased demand for registered nurses will come up from facilities other than hospitals, such as outpatient and long-term care centers.
As tin be expected, the job growth is not necessarily even across the nation. The below table lists the meridian x states where growth is expected to be the highest from 2018 to 2028.
Steps to Becoming a Registered Nurse
Stride one Consummate an accredited registered nurse program
In gild to get a registered nurse, students must graduate from an accredited programme. Several options are bachelor, including nursing diplomas, acquaintance degrees or available's degrees.An associate degree in nursing typically takes two years to complete, though accelerated programs can shorten this timeframe. A bachelor's degree in nursing takes nearly 4 years of total-time report, or two years for those in an associate-to-bachelor's RN programme.
Another expedited selection is to attend a schoolhouse that offers a "second degree" program if y'all already agree a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. Yous may also decide to consummate a four-year bachelor's plan at the commencement of your education, allowing you to move into roles such as:
- Administration
- Nursing consulting
- Inquiry
- Advanced nursing
- Didactics
Available'due south degree programs crave students to complete general education classes in improver to their nursing coursework. While many of the aforementioned topics taught at the associate level are covered in a bachelor'south degree, a 4-yr program will provide a more in-depth set of knowledge and skills. Every bit the field of nursing becomes more than competitive, more employers are requiring newly appointed RNs to hold a available's degree.
Common nursing coursework includes the post-obit topics:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Statistics
- Chemical science
- Health care constabulary and ethics
- Health Care policy
- Microbiology
- Nutrition
- Patient care
- Psychology
- Nursing Research
- Introduction to Professional Nursing
Step 2: Have and laissez passer the NCLEX-RN examinatio
Registered nursing programs should help set y'all to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Upon graduation, you should register with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to sign upwards for the exams. Candidates will receive an Authorization to Test notification when it is time to sign up for the exam.This computerized exam has an average of 119 questions and must exist completed within half-dozen hours. Those who do not pass must await at least 45 days to retake the test. The national average NCLEX-RN passage rate is around 70-75%.
Step 3: Obtain a state license
Every US country and territory, as well as the District of Columbia, requires employed registered nurses to have proper licensure. Mandates vary by country, so you should contact your country board of nursing to see if there are whatever additional steps, such as a background check.Step 4: Obtain employment equally a registered nurse
Registered nurses are in high demand, and then recent graduates from RN programs often take multiple options when information technology comes to deciding where they would like to work. Recollect that much of what it takes to be a registered nurse or whatever other medical professional person is learned with actual experience.Pace 5: Pursue boosted grooming or education
If a registered nurse decides to become an advanced practice registered nurse and specialize their knowledge, they volition need a master'due south degree. After completing this education, y'all tin apply for roles including:- Certified nurse specialist
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse midwife
If you want to become farther, you might choose to enter a doctoral plan. DNP or PhD programs are appealing to those aspiring to positions every bit scientific researchers or university professors in the nursing sciences. You lot may also undertake further certifications in areas such equally critical intendance, acute care, or nursing management.
Understanding RN Programs
In club to become a registered nurse, y'all must obtain a caste or nursing diploma, with the most common avenues beingness associate or bachelor'southward programs.
A nursing diploma is less popular due to the fact that it still takes ii years to consummate but does not provide a degree upon completion. Additionally, many nursing organizations and associations are calling for the diploma to be phased out completely, encouraging aspiring nurses to opt for a available's caste.
A master'southward degree in nursing is besides available, and registered nurses who wish to specialize their knowledge or take the first step in receiving a doctorate level nursing degree normally obtain them.
Nursing Diploma
Nursing diplomas are hospital-based programs providing intensive hands-on grooming alongside nursing coursework. The program too requires co-requisite classes in areas such equally anatomy, biology, and psychology at a traditional educational institution.
This experiential style of learning provides you with knowledge of basic nursing care. You volition also receive a supplementary education in math and scientific discipline topics. The nautical chart below provides a snapshot of a typical nursing diploma curriculum.
Anatomy and Physiology
Basics of human being systems will be covered, as well as identification of human body components. Areas include jail cell metabolism and the circulatory, nervous, and muscular systems.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Psychology
Students will be introduced to the basic principles of the human being heed and behavior. Topics include personality, motivation, learning, perception, and mental disorders
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Theoretical Foundations in Nursing
Teaches fundamentals of the nursing profession past introducing students to theories forming the basis for patient assessment, laboratory testing, and medical rubber.
Skills & Cognition Gained
Transition into Exercise
Through clinical exercise, students will demonstrate their nursing competencies, study nursing and medical literature, and explore futurity trends in the field.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Acquaintance Degree in Nursing
While the curriculum of an associate degree in nursing shares similarities with vocational nursing and nursing diploma programs, the breadth and depth of cloth covered is significantly different.
General didactics requirements of an associate degree provide a more holistic educational experience, while avant-garde nursing classes and additional clinical experience equip graduates with a nuanced understanding of the field. The table below reviews common classes and highlights how topics covered interpret to nursing exercise.
Microbiology and Immunology
This course involves the study of microorganisms and how they bear on human being health.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Nursing Care of Patients with Complex Needs
Students learn about the nursing care process and how information technology is used to treat patients throughout their lives. Special emphasis is placed on increasingly complex medical issues seen in patients, such equally obesity, centre disease and diabetes.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Nursing Management of Patient Care
Patient management techniques will exist covered, preparing students to finer serve patients with a broad range of medical issues while maintaining a high level of care.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Professional Bug in Nursing
Students volition be exposed to recurring and potential nursing issues, such every bit legal and upstanding dilemmas, healthcare leadership conflicts, and healthcare policies.
Skills & Noesis Gained
Available of Science in Nursing
A bachelor's caste in nursing builds on the associate caste curriculum by exposing you to an even wider range of nursing and healthcare-related concepts and theories. Emphasis is placed on enquiry and related medical concepts, equipping yous with a broader theoretical foundation.
If you already hold a non-nursing undergraduate caste, you tin undertake an accelerated program to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. Another popular choice allows professionals already working in a nursing position to obtain their available's degree in less time by taking into account existing experience and educational activity.
Examples of classes often found in a bachelor's program are listed below.
Health Intendance of Women
Commonly encountered issues in women's health are addressed in this course, with added accent on reproductive concepts and significant patients.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Introduction to Nursing Inquiry
Research related concepts and practice methods are covered. Topics such as scientific methods and statistical analysis will exist explained.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
Public Health Nursing
This course focuses on the delivery of medical care to communities and to different populations. Public health and nursing theories will also be discussed.
Skills & Cognition Gained
Chemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia
The bones scientific principles for effective nurse anesthesia will be taught in this grade. Chemistry and physics concepts forming the basis of anesthesiology volition also exist reviewed.
Skills & Knowledge Gained
The MSN Caste
A master'south degree in nursing allows RNs to specialize in a particular area or have the first step in achieving a nursing degree at the doctoral level. While undergraduate degrees and programs prepare students to be registered nurses, principal'southward level degrees emphasize a nursing specialty. Below is a brief listing of skills students can wait to possess upon graduation.
Understanding of health care policy
During the course of their studies, students will develop a circuitous agreement of how and why medical intendance is provided in a certain style. They volition know learn why specific medical techniques or treatments are used over others, with consideration given to prevailing societal, cultural, political, and business influences.
Utilize of specialized medical applied science
A major reason many nurses choose to pursue a master's caste is to larn a specialization. The utilize of medical tools and techniques specific to that concentration will be taught at the graduate level. For example, a registered nurse specializing in pediatric care will develop a detailed agreement of incubators found in neonatal intensive intendance units.
Implementing advanced research methods
Many medical intendance technologies and methodologies originated from historical research and subsequent discoveries, and recent medical developments e'er circumduct effectually research. Graduate level nurses larn almost a spectrum of research methods with great depth, assuasive them to effectively analyze data or design and undertake independent inquiry projects.
Nursing management
Providing effective medical intendance is a team effort, and successful nurses understand how to residuum providing excellent care to multiple patients while working with a variety of healthcare professionals. A chief'south caste in nursing offers guidance to assist nurses provide more than efficient care, motility into leadership roles, and manage others.
Areas of Concentration for Registered Nurses
Most registered nurses choose to specialize in one item expanse of healthcare, such as emergency care, elderliness, informatics, or neonatal. The post-obit table highlights numerous concentrations available to registered nurses.
| Critical Care | Midwifery | Enquiry | Anesthesia | Informatics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I want to piece of work with the critically sick and patients who are at loftier risk for life-threatening conditions, diseases, and health problems. | | ||||
| I want to piece of work with pregnant women, those trying to become meaning, or patients who have just given nascency. | | ||||
| I would like to help patients reduce or manage pain and keep them equally comfortable as possible during their medical care. | | ||||
| I like working with computers as much equally I like working with people. I would also like to help run computer and data systems that monitor and manage patient care. | | ||||
| I like numbers, statistics, and the development of new medical discoveries that help patients. | |
Online RN Programs
Though the majority of RN classes were administered through traditional campus-based programs in the past, today, a large number of institutions offer online nursing degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In well-nigh cases, you should expect online programs to exist every bit as rigorous and respected as those beingness taught at brick-and-mortar institutions. When researching potential online programs, look for a few specific components, including:
Reputation
What is the school'south reputation, especially at local hospitals and medical facilities? Does the online degree have make recognition on a regional or national level? Depending on futurity goals, the marketability of a nursing caste may exist a serious factor to consider.
Quality of Faculty
The quality of a degree depends not only on the level of pupil delivery, but also the effectiveness of their professors. Teachers with terminal degrees in their specialty, recent clinical experience and a widely published oeuvre are much more likely to be dynamic and knowledgeable educators.
NCLEX-RN Licensure Prep
Before students can go active registered nurses, they must starting time pass the NCLEX-RN examination, so selecting a program that properly equips graduates is a crucial step. Does the school offer adequate preparation for students? Outside of logistical and financial considerations, a school's ability to groom students for successful licensure is the most of import factor when selecting an RN program.
NCLEX-RN Passage Rates
Another crucial factor in selecting a programme is its licensure passage rate. Most schools volition listing these statistics on their website, simply they can also exist accessed past calling the school's admissions section. The national average is around lxx-75 percent; a school posting results lower than these figures should be carefully researched to understand the reason.
Components of a Successful Nursing Career
Skills
The most successful registered nurses possess a broad spectrum of clinical and administrative skills. Disquisitional thinking is crucial, as nurses often work in emergency situations requiring snap decisions. Communication also plays a vital function when forming a proper diagnosis and carrying treatment plans to other medical staff. Attention to detail can mean the difference between life and death: forgetting to add together a decimal point in the correct location on a patient's tape could mean providing a very incorrect dosage of medicine.
Credentials
Aside from passing the NCLEX-RN examination, there are numerous other credentials or certifications available to registered nurses. The American Nurses Credentialing Middle provides many certification programs, some of which are listed below:
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
- Acute Intendance Nurse Practitioner
- Gerontological Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Ambulatory Intendance Nursing
- Neonatal Pediatric Ship
- Cardiac-Vascular Nursing
- Public Health Nursing, Advance
- Nurse Executive
Depending on the certification and the system that offers it, most must exist renewed after a certain menstruation of time, commonly every few years.
Tools and Technology
Registered nurses employ a wide range of tools and technologies in the course of their work. A few of the near common types are reviewed below:
| Medical Instruments | Stethoscope, pulse oximeter, syringes and lancets, thermometer, defibrillator, forceps, hemostats, medical suction equipment, catheters, blood pressure monitor, and automated IV pumps |
| Medical software | IDX Systems database software, Misys Healthcare Systems medical software, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Drug reference guides |
| Protective gear | Dispensable gloves, disposable protective masks, dispensable gowns, hair covers, and shoe covers. |
Spotlight Career Interview
Mary A. Osborne, BA, BSN, RN, and honor winning author of Abracadabra's Daughter has provided the following insight into what it's like to exist a registered nurse.
What led to your conclusion to become a registered nurse?
Every bit a starting time-time college educatee I had no definite career path in mind, but I wanted a job that would allow me to make a positive difference in people'south lives. With the thought of working as a health care professional in some capacity, I earned my showtime my first available's degree in chemical science while likewise pursuing studies in artistic writing. Every bit my dear for writing grew, I ultimately came to the decision that condign an RN would lead to a solid career path while also allowing me the flexibility to pursue my creative ambitions.
What was your educational path?
Two years afterward earning my BA in chemistry from Knox College, I enrolled at the Blitz Academy College of Nursing. Considering I had already completed a bachelor's degree at Knox, only two boosted years of written report were required to earn my bachelor's of science in nursing.
The programme at the Blitz has changed since I was a student, and now offers a "Direct Entry Masters" plan. This program offers not-nurses with a available's caste from an accredited school the opportunity to earn a principal'southward degree in nursing and to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam in just ii years. The advanced caste offers a clear advantage because employers are looking for nurses who can take on more responsibility in today's earth of complex wellness care.
What were some of your favorite courses and why?
In nursing school I was fascinated by pharmacology classes. I loved learning the biochemistry or chemic pathways that make drugs work in the specific way that they do in the homo body. I also enjoyed the skills lab, where nosotros students skilful our newly learned nursing skills, such every bit taking claret force per unit area or listening to lung sounds, on one another or on mannequins, which were forgiving of our early on mistakes.
What does your day-to-day work entail?
As a nurse care manager for an eldercare company, I aid manage the circuitous medical care of older adults who wish to remain at home as well as those who are in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. I conduct nursing assessments to make up one's mind the specific needs of our clients, develop professional plans of care, and communicate with physicians. I likewise supervise and instruct nursing administration, who assistance our clients with their activities of daily living. As a per diem nurse intendance manager, I decide when I am bachelor to work (and when I write my novels). Typically, I provide coverage during decorated periods. Per diem nurse jobs are available in a variety of health care settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and rehab centers.
Exercise you lot have any advice for students interested in becoming a registered nurse?
Nursing is a rewarding profession that can provide life-long task satisfaction and task security. Nurses with bachelor'due south degrees have a wide variety of chore opportunities, and main's prepared nurses have the ability to move directly into leadership roles after graduation.
Similar Healthcare Careers
By now, interested individuals know in that location are other health care professions related to registered nursing. However, what type of instruction is required? Is the growth rate expected to be amend or worse than that of registered nurses? The tabular array below will aid respond those questions.
Licensed practical/
vocational nurse
9%
Salary
$48,820
Education and Training:
Mail-secondary non-caste award
Nurse practitioner
45%
Salary
$117,670
Teaching and Training:
Primary's degree
Nurse midwife
45%
Salary
$117,670
Education and Training:
Master's degree
Dental Hygienist
6%
Salary
$77,090
Teaching and Grooming:
Associate degree
Diagnostic medical
sonographer
12%
Bacon
$70,380
Education and Grooming:
Associate degree
Physician assistant
31%
Salary
$115,390
Pedagogy and Training:
Main's degree
EMT/paramedic
6%
Bacon
$36,650
Education and Training:
Post-secondary non-degree award
Marriage and family
therapists
22%
Salary
$51,340
Education and Training:
Master's degree
Physical therapist
eighteen%
Salary
$91,010
Teaching and Preparation:
Doctorate
What Practise Similar Careers Make?
There are other careers similar to registered nursing that may be of interest to those looking to piece of work in the healthcare field. The chart below lists a few related occupations likewise as their salaries.
Registered Nurse and Related Chore Salaries
'\"Subject\";\"10th Percentile\";\"Median Salary\";\"90th Percentile\"\n\"Nurse Practitioners\";64100;89960;120500\n\"LPNs and LVNs\";30970;41540;57360\n\"Registered Nurses\";45040;65470;94720\n\"Nurse Anesthetists\";105810;148160;237056\northward\"Nurse Midwives\";62480;89600;119690'
Related Careers at a Glance
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