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When people think about nursing, probably they picture the Registered Nurse. The degree and skills of a Registered Nurse allows the RN to be employed in just about any state, as well as other countries. Currently, the career/profession of Registered Nurse is in a high demand.
The workload varies per institution. If you are a Registered Nurse at a small hospital, then you may take on duties that Certified Nursing Assistants and LPNs may do at larger hospitals. If you are a RN at a larger hospital, then you make take part in more administrative type of roles than you would working at a small medical facility. Once you become a REGISTERED Nurse, then as a nurse, you have all kinds of opportunities that open up to you. There are different job positions for RNs which present different benefits and challenges. There are surgical nurses, OB/GYN nurses, neonatal nurses, physician office nurses, occupational health nurses, school nurses, emergency room nurses, home health care nurses, traveling nurses, and a variety of more opportunities exist for the REGISTERED nurse.
The duties of a RN can vary so very much depending on the type of nurse that you are and which type of medical facility that employs you. Here are just a very, very few of the basic type of skills and duties that may be asked of Registered Nurses:
The job/career of a Registered Nurse offers A LOT of benefits such as high salary, job security, and great health benefits for the RN and her/his family. It can be a great career. Usually, nurses work in clean, temperature-controlled environments. It sure can beat working outside in the "elements." However, being a Registered Nurse is NOT for everyone. For one thing, more responsibilities come with being a Registered Nurse, than being a CNA or LPN. The same thing applies for just about any nurse, is that nursing can be a very stressful job. The nature of the work, dealing with sick, hurt, and dying people has a tendency to promote "friction" between nurse and patients; nurse and other coworkers; and nurse and physicians. Burnout in the field of nursing IS something that has to concern anyone entering the nursing field. You are working with human beings on very basic humanistic levels. You will be seeing many people when they are vulnerable and stressed out. As a nurse, you will have to learn to deal with emotions of patients, the emotions of the family of patients, emotions of your coworkers, AND your own emotions.
It is possible to get a 40-hour, eight-hour a day, five days a week job. It is possible to get a job where you work 12-hour shifts for three days in a row and then get four days off. However, it is possible that you will get a job where you will see nursing/staff shortages and you will be asked to work hours you would prefer not to work.
There are three routes to becoming a Registered Nurse. First, you have to receive training from a vocational school, community college, four-year college, or university. There are not many vocational schools teaching this, but those students who go this route will receive a diploma after about two years. A community college produces an associate degree in two or three years. A university can provide the student with a bachelor's degree in four or five years. No matter which of these paths you take, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Exam - Registered Nurse) exam to become REGISTERED.
The wages vary per state, type of medical facility, and size of medical facility. For example, it is HIGHLY likely that a RN will be paid quite a bit more at a large urban hospital than a nursing home in a small rural setting. The salary range really can vary, but a very good approximation of an average income would be around $50,000 and that might be the STARTING pay at many hospitals.
Indeed.com job website features a web page that allows you to type in the name of your career. Indeed.com will search its job postings and list an average of the salaries for that job within Indeed's job postings. This gives a more up-to-date view of what employers are paying RNs. The website page is located at http://www.indeed.com/salary. Just type in RN or you can type registered nurse.
These are very difficult economic times. There are many, many people asking "Where are all the jobs?" Well, Registered Nurse, as well as other jobs within the medical field, is one of the answers. Without a doubt, nursing is NOT for everyone. However, if you have what it takes to do this type of job, then the financial and personal rewards can be VERY rewarding for you and your family.
CityTownInfo.com has career information about Registered Nurses at http://www.citytowninfo.com/employment/registered-nurses
Explore Health Careers.org provides information about Registered Nurses, as well as other nursing professions, at http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/21/Registered_Nurse_RN. There are three TABS on the web page for you to select. Overview, Academic Requirements, and Resources tabs will provide more information.
Nursing Grants and SCHOLARSHIPS: The College and Career Library provides a list of nursing scholarships at http://www.booksinformationandmore.com/nursingscholarships.html.
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