What is a Registered Nurse?
Registered Nurse (RN) Example Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
Daily Life Of a Registered Nurse (RN)
- Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient’s condition.
- Consult with institutions or associations regarding issues or concerns relevant to the practice and profession of nursing.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Perform administrative or managerial functions, such as taking responsibility for a unit’s staff, budget, planning, or long-range goals.
- Conduct specified laboratory tests.
- Assess the needs of individuals, families, or communities, including assessment of individuals’ home or work environments, to identify potential health or safety problems.
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What a Registered Nurse (RN) Should Know
When polled, Registered Nurses say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Types of Registered Nurse
- Floor Supervisor
- Patient Care Coordinator
- Nurse Manager
- Hospice Registered Nurse
- RN BSN (Registered Nurse Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
Are There Job Opportunities for Registered Nurses?
In the United States, there were 2,955,200 jobs for Registered Nurse in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 438,000 new jobs for Registered Nurse by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 203,700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Registered Nurse (RN) are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Wisconsin, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Registered Nurse (RN)
The salary for Registered Nurses ranges between about $50,800 and $106,530 a year.

Registered Nurses who work in Hawaii, California, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Registered Nurses in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $59,470 |
Alaska | $89,310 |
Arizona | $77,000 |
Arkansas | $60,780 |
California | $106,950 |
Colorado | $74,240 |
Connecticut | $81,220 |
Delaware | $74,800 |
District of Columbia | $92,350 |
Florida | $66,210 |
Georgia | $68,950 |
Hawaii | $98,080 |
Idaho | $67,110 |
Illinois | $73,890 |
Indiana | $64,860 |
Iowa | $59,130 |
Kansas | $61,030 |
Kentucky | $63,100 |
Louisiana | $63,970 |
Maine | $67,610 |
Maryland | $76,820 |
Massachusetts | $92,140 |
Michigan | $71,330 |
Minnesota | $78,920 |
Mississippi | $58,490 |
Missouri | $65,130 |
Montana | $67,450 |
Nebraska | $64,470 |
Nevada | $85,620 |
New Hampshire | $72,760 |
New Jersey | $82,750 |
New Mexico | $71,730 |
New York | $85,610 |
North Carolina | $64,850 |
North Dakota | $65,740 |
Ohio | $66,820 |
Oklahoma | $63,080 |
Oregon | $91,080 |
Pennsylvania | $70,390 |
Rhode Island | $78,420 |
South Carolina | $64,940 |
South Dakota | $58,340 |
Tennessee | $61,320 |
Texas | $72,890 |
Utah | $65,670 |
Vermont | $69,160 |
Virginia | $69,790 |
Washington | $82,670 |
West Virginia | $61,780 |
Wisconsin | $71,470 |
Wyoming | $67,360 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Registered Nurses
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Registered Nurses:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- IBM Notes
- FileMaker Pro
- MEDITECH software
- Google Drive
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Human resource management software HRMS
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Medical condition coding software
How do I Become a Registered Nurse (RN)?
What education is needed to be a Registered Nurse?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Registered Nurse (RN)?

Where Registered Nurses Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Registered Nurses work:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Registered Nurse might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Aleksahgabrielle via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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