RN Overview
Registered Nurse or RNs are considered to be the largest occupation in healthcare industry. Bureau of labor and Statistics have recorded 2.6 million jobs in 2008 and projected employment of 1,039,000 million by 2018, an expected growth of 22%. Due to increasing number of older populations who have healthcare needs and functional disabilities, job opportunities were opened in home health and long term care.
RNs are also needed in pharmaceutical and insurance companies, public health, government agencies, schools and physician’s office. RNs have excellent opportunities in the job market than any occupation.
RNs have an average hourly rate of $31.00 and $ 64,000 per year.
Education and Licensure
Whether this is your first time to choose or switching to a career in nursing, it is your right to get as much information before pursuing your nursing dream. You have several options on how to attain your RN degree.
- BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) – this program usually takes 4 years to complete in colleges or universities. It includes classroom instructions on theories and supervised clinical practice into different health settings and has broader scope of practice. Having a bachelor’s degree has more potential for administrative, research, consultation and teaching positions.
- ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) – this program is offered at private and community colleges and it takes about 2-3 years to complete.
- LPN to RN bridging programs- another option where you take up 1-2 years LPN program. With this, you can work as an LPN and gain clinical experience while taking a bridging program to RN.
In any which way you choose, upon completion of an approved RN program, you have to sit on National Board Examination, NCLEX-RN in the U.S. and CRNE in Canada to be licensed and register with the State or Provincial Regulatory Body where you chose to practice.
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Monitor and assess patient’s condition and vital signs, report any significant findings to the Physician in charge
- Maintain patient’s medical record accurately, in written and electronic form
- Update and modify treatment plans according to patient’s need and condition
- Supervise other healthcare personnel (licensed practical nurse, nursing aide, home health aide) and specific unit
- Promotes health education and disease prevention to individuals, family and groups
- Coordinate with other members of healthcare team in implementing plan of care
- Assist and prepare patient for health examination and treatment procedures
- Administer treatments and medications through oral, topical and parenteral route
Specialization in Nursing
Registered nurses or RNs can specialize and practice in different fields. They can specialize in a specific work setting such as critical care nurses, who work with physicians and assist patients with complex, serious illness or injuries which need very close monitoring and extensive treatment.
Other RNs specialize in a particular health condition as like diabetes management nurses do, they help diabetic patients manage their condition. They may also specialize in different age groups, such as pediatric nurses working with children. RNs may consider specialization in different organs and systems of the body, like cardiovascular nurses who assist patients with heart diseases and those who have undergone heart surgeries.
Registered Nurse Advancement
There are registered nurses who choose to advance in their practice. Four types of advancement in nursing would require at least a Master’s degree.
- Nurse Anesthetists administer anesthesia to patients before and after surgical, diagnostic and obstetric procedures.
- Nurse-Midwives provide care to women, prenatal check-ups, family planning, assistance in labor and delivery and baby care.
- Nurse Practitioners serve as Primary care Provider to patients and families.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist provides expert consultation and care of patients in specialized nursing practice.