Registered Nurse Career

The field of nursing offers people the opportunity to comfort and care for the ill and infirm patients in hospital settings. Genuine compassion and caring are the qualities that make a good nurse, and if you have these attributes, a registered nurse career may be ideal.

What is a Registered Nurse?

A registered nurse is a person, either male or female, who has received an education that qualifies him or her to administer to the sick. Working under the supervision of a health care professional, a registered nurse is essential to any hospital, clinic, or other health-related facility. Registered nurses often work in the home of the patient who requires around -the- clock care.

Registered Nurse Job Duties

The duties of a registered nurse are many and varied. It is the duty of the nurse to administer to the sick people under his or her care by providing assistance where needed. This may include giving medications, providing information about health to the patient and family, and a host of other duties. The registered nurse may also be the person responsible for the care a patient receives after surgery. He or she will work in close conjunction with the doctor in charge, and the registered nurse will observe and report any changes in condition.

Registered Nurse Skills

Anyone wishing to have a registered nurse career must have a genuine compassion for the people he or she will be administering to. Good communication skills are essential, as well as an abundance of patience. A registered nurse should also have the capability to remain calm during times of crisis, yet at the same time be able to make on-the-spot decisions if the need arises. Good leadership qualities are also needed, as the nurse will have several employees under his or her supervision.

Registered Nurse Education

Many times, a person wishing to become a registered nurse will start out his or her career as an LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse. The registered nursing degree requires that the individual graduate from an accredited school of nursing with an associate’s degree which can be accomplished in 2 years, or a 4 year course of study to attain a bachelor’s degree. After successfully graduating, the student must pass en exam to receive the certification required to practice nursing in their state.

Registered Nurse Salary

The salary a registered nurse can expect to make annually will depend on whether he or she has specialized in a particular area of nursing. The location of the employment also plays a large part in earnings, as does experience and the degree of education that has been obtained. The current average yearly salary for a registered nurse in the U.S. is approximately $52,000.

Registered Nurse Job Outlook

A registered nurse career enjoys a bright future for job possibilities. In fact, there is a distinct shortage of registered nurses in the U.S. today, meaning that there are many job opportunities available for someone who has graduated from nursing school. Statistics have shown that within the next 10 to 15 years, at least 1 million nurses will be needed to fill the void. This is indeed a wise career choice.

Compassionate, caring, dedicated people are needed worldwide in the nursing field. As long as there are sick people in the world, there is going to be a need of skilled registered nurses to take care of them. Perhaps this career is what you have been looking for to fulfill the need to help others who are unable to care for themselves.