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What Registered Nurses Do
Registered nurses (RNs) play an important role in healthcare by offering comfort and medical assistance to individuals and their loved ones coping with health challenges. RNs assess patients' conditions, record medical records, administer medications and treatments, and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide the best care possible for their patients. Registered Nurses have strong critical thinking and communication skills, as well as compassion and attention to detail.
Educational Requirements
To become a registered nurse, you must complete one of three education paths: a diploma from an approved nursing program, an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), or a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN).
These programs typically include education in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and social and behavioral sciences, and supervised clinical work. After completing your education, aspiring RNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
How Much Do Registered Nurses Make?
The pay range for registered nurses varies. However, the average salary being $89,010 per year and the highest earners making up to $129,400.
Registered Nurses' Personality Type
The best-fitting personality type for registered nurses is one that values dependability, cooperation, attention to detail, concern for others, and stress tolerance.
Do you have the right personality strengths for Nursing?
It is vital to evaluate the educational requirements associated with becoming a registered nurse to determine if you are prepared to commit to the necessary level of education and training to become an RN. It is equally important to confirm that your work personality strengths align with the job characteristics of being a registered nurse.
Pursuing a career that utilizes your natural personality strengths and aptitudes can make the job more fulfilling and require less energy to perform. To determine if a career as a registered nurse is the right fit for you, consider taking a work personality test. This test can provide valuable insights into your best career match and help you make an informed decision about pursuing a career in nursing.
Nursing Careers
Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse
Post Secondary Nondegree Award
$55,860 - $72,650
Licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs) deliver important medical care to patients within various healthcare environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and similar settings. They monitor patients' vital signs, administer medications, assist with personal care, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment. LPNs/LVNs play a crucial role in patient care, providing compassionate and skilled support to individuals in need.
Critical Care Nurse
Bachelors Degree
$89,010 - $129,400
Critical care nurses offer specialized nursing support to patients in critical or coronary care units. They evaluate patients' vital signs and laboratory data, administer medications, monitor patients for changes in status, and collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan and provide treatment. This is often a high-stress environment.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Bachelors Degree
$89,010 - $129,400
A clinical nurse specialist is responsible for directing nursing staff in providing patient care in various healthcare settings. They ensure that clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards are followed, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, and develop and maintain departmental policies and patient care standards. They also evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and may be involved in training medical providers and conducting research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
Bachelors Degree
$89,010 - $129,400
Advanced practice psychiatric nurses are trained to specialize in providing mentaal helth caare to paatients. They have advanced knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders. These nurses work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans, prescribe medications, and provide therapy and counseling to help individuals manage their mental health conditions more effectively.
Acute Care Nurses
Bachelors Degree
$89,010 - $129,400
Acute care nurses provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions. These can include heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock. They can also care for pre and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures that requiure speciaalized trainging.
Nurse Midwives
Masters Degree
$122,450 - $171,230
Nurse midwives are advanced-practice registered nurses who help care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. They offer prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care and may also provide well-woman gynecological care. Nurse midwives have specialized graduate nursing education and work independently or as part of a healthcare team to diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process.
Nurse Practitioner
Masters Degree
$124,680 - $165,240
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who diagnoses and treats acute, episodic, or chronic illnesses. They work independently or as part of a healthcare team, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescribing medication, and providing patients with information to promote health and prevent disease. With specialized graduate education, nurse practitioners play a crucial role in delivering comprehensive and patient-centered care.
Nurse Anesthetists
Masters Degree
$205,770 - $227,160
Nurse anesthetists is a form of advanced practice registered nurses who are responsible for administering anesthesia, monitoring patients' vital signs, and overseeing patient recovery from anesthesia. They develop anesthesia care plans, manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, and respond to emergency situations. Nurse anesthetists work closely with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to provide safe and effective anesthesia administration.
Quick answers
How do you become a registered nurse?
To become a registered nurse, you finish one of three paths: a diploma from an approved nursing program, an associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Then you must pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. Your program will include science classes and supervised clinical work.
What does a registered nurse do?
Registered nurses check patients' conditions, keep medical records, give medications and treatments, and work with doctors and other providers to plan care. They also support patients and families through hard health moments. The job takes critical thinking, clear communication, compassion, and close attention to detail.
What nursing jobs pay the most?
Advanced practice nurses usually earn the most. Nurse anesthetists are among the highest-paid nursing roles, followed by nurse practitioners and nurse midwives. These jobs require a graduate degree and extra training. Licensed practical nurses earn less but can start working sooner, after a shorter training program.
What is the difference between an RN and an LPN?
LPNs, also called LVNs, complete a shorter training program and give basic care, like checking vital signs, giving medications, and helping with personal care. RNs complete a diploma, associate, or bachelor's program and take on more responsibility, such as assessing patients and helping plan treatment. RNs usually earn more.
Is nursing a good career for my personality?
Nursing tends to fit people who are dependable, caring, detail-oriented, and calm under stress, and who work well on a team. It also takes a real commitment to school and training. Take the free career test to see if your work personality strengths match nursing and other healthcare careers.
Explore the career research on over 1000 modern careers at CareerFitter and begin your journey. Take the only career test with a personality assessment and an aptitude assessment to learn which careers are best for you.
