RN Career

An RN career offers those with a need to administer to the sick the opportunity to assist in their well-being. The RN, or Registered Nurse, is someone a patient will see as frequently as his or her doctor. In fact, the RN will probably be the one medical professional who remains in close contact with the patient and his or her family during the entire course of treatment.

What is an RN?

Men and women who graduate from an accredited nursing school with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, and who have taken and passed a state exam are called RN’s. The RN works closely with the physician concerning the care of the patient, and is often the one who administers medications during the course of care. An RN may work in a hospital setting, or in the office of the doctor, and may be the medical professional who takes care of someone in the patient´s own home.

RN Job Duties

The RN will administer appropriate care of the patient according to the instructions of the doctor in charge. This will include administering the proper medication as needed, keeping a close eye on the progress of the patient, and reporting his or her observations to the doctor. He or she will supervise other nursing staff as well. The doctor depends on the expertise of the RN to carry out his or her instructions regarding care of the patient.

RN Skills

An RN must have patience, understanding and compassion for the people he or she is treating. People who are ill are often frightened and nervous about their illness, and the RN has to be able to effectively explain treatments and the reasons for them. He or she will often be required to interact with the family or loved ones of the patients, and good interpersonal skills are crucial at this point. A genuine desire to help others is vital to good nursing care. An RN will often be called upon to assist in an emergency situation and must have the ability to remain calm while working under pressure.

RN Education

To qualify for a position as an RN at any medical facility, the individual must have the required education and certification that is necessary. An RN career means that the student must first gain admittance to an accredited school of nursing for either a 2 year associate’s degree, or a 4 year course of study to earn a bachelor’s degree. Subjects such as anatomy, biology, chemistry physiology, and science courses will be required. The RN candidate must also learn medical terminology as part of his or her studies. After graduation, the student must successfully pass the state administered exam to obtain his or her RN license.

RN Salary

The average median salary that an RN can expect to earn per year is about $52,000. This does not include any overtime hours, and in the field of nursing there may be many hours worked over the designated 40 hour work week. This would make the yearly salary potentially much higher than average. Another deciding factor that will have an effect on salary is whether the RN is specializing in any particular area. Job location also affects earnings.

RN Job Outlook

There is a tremendous shortage of qualified RNs world-wide today. The growing demand for expert care in the medical field makes the RN career one of the best opportunities in medicine. At the present time there is a 25% shortage of nurses in the U.S. alone. Due in part to the odd fact that people are living longer, there is actually more need for medical care which is one of the reasons RNs are in high demand everywhere.

Qualified, expert nurses are needed in every medical facility. This career choice is not for everyone, but for those people who have a desire to help sick people get back on the road to good health, an RN career can do that. Examine the possibilities, do the research, and this may be the career you have been seeking.