Registered nurses, or RNs, are the largest healthcare occupation for good reason; they give patients medical care, educate them about their health issues, and offer emotional support. These medical professionals observe and record their patients’ condition. They help perform diagnostic tests to make effective plans for patient care. Before patients head home from a treatment or procedure, RNs explain how to manage the illness or injury. A core part of medical teams, they consult with doctors and other health care professionals and may oversee the work of other nurses and assistants. Registered nurses work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, home health care services, and nursing homes. Some work in correctional facilities or schools, or serve in the military. Nurses may also have the opportunity to travel, as they are needed across the U.S. and around the world. Risks—such as back injuries from lifting patients or exposure to infectious diseases and chemicals—are part of the job. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays, and be on call in off-hours. There are three paths to become an RN: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. They must also be licensed. Some nurses earn a master’s or doctoral-level degree and work in management, research, or academic settings. Combining competence with compassion, nursing is a career that improves —and even saves— many lives.
What they do:
Direct nursing staff in the provision of patient care in a clinical practice setting, such as a hospital, hospice, clinic, or home. Ensure adherence to established clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards.
On the job, you would:
Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.
Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.
Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards, based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinion.
Health
medicine and dentistry
therapy and counseling
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
biology
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
looking for ways to help people
changing what is done based on other people's actions
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Attention
do two or more things at the same time
pay attention to something without being distracted
Memory
remember words, numbers, pictures, or steps
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Adaptability/Flexibility
Dependability
Leadership
Attention to Detail
Analytical Thinking
You might use software like this on the job:
Medical software
eClinicalWorks EHR software
GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
master's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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