Job Description For a Registered Nurse

If you happen to be interested in becoming a registered nurse, then you are most likely aware that there are certain qualifications to become a registered nurse.



What is a registered nurse and why are there so many registered nurse jobs out there? A registered nurse is one that has a college degree (Associate's or Bachelor's degree) from an accredited institution and has passed his or her nursing boards. Required classes to get a degree so that you can qualify for registered nurse jobs include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and behavioral science classes like psychology. Most schools require clinical experience, and this experience will also help you when you are looking for registered nurse jobs.



Education and experience are key components to certain registered nurse jobs. If you are considering registered nurse jobs in administration, you may want to consider getting a Bachelor degree, as many organizations now require it. Sometimes if you are considering registered nurse jobs in more complex areas like surgery or neo-natal intensive care, organizations will want you to gain significant clinical experience. Also, other registered nurse jobs may even require you to have a masters' degree, like being a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or certified nurse anesthetist.



Another option is for the prospective RN to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from a university. Once a BSN degree is earned, it gives the person the opportunity to pursue higher education opportunities in his or her field such as a Master's Degree or a PhD.



All of the training programs for registered nurses include both classroom and clinical components. The job description for a registered nurse could include a wide variety of different tasks depending on the particular position that the nurse is interested in.



Registered nurse jobs in hospitals is expected to remain the same, though registered nurse jobs in nursing care facilities is expected to grow exponentially as the baby boomer generation ages.



The pay for RNs will depend a lot on the qualifications, experience, and specialty of the nursing position being described. There is a wide range in salary, but the median salary for a registered nurse in May 2007 was $60,010.