Overview
A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed healthcare professional essential for patient care, safety, and education. They assess health needs, provide medical attention, assist in diagnostics, and offer emotional support. Registered nurses work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, home healthcare, and nursing facilities. As of 2022, the median annual salary for RNs is $89,010, varying based on location, education, and experience. They also receive benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and wellness programs.
Pathway to Become
Training to become a registered nurse varies from state to state, however they typically follow the same structure and takes 2-4 years to gain all required certifications. An example of a typical track might look like:
-Complete all prerequisites for an ADN or BSN. Common prerequisites for a nursing student are anatomy, Microbiology, Psychology, or Biology
-Get an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s in the science of nursing (BSN).
-Apply for the required NCLEX-RN exam six weeks before graduation. The NCLEX-RN is a national exam used to ensure that every RN has an approved set of skills before entering the medical field.
-Apply for employment; you can do this by contacting a college network and gathering job resources. It’s also important to make a good impression during clinical rotations to impress future employers.
If you would like to see a more in depth look at the pathway to become an RN, click here
Work-life balance
Hospitals always need registered nurses as they are essential to the healthcare system due to the wide variety of jobs they do across various settings. RNs are at the forefront of patient care and often serve as the primary point of contact for patients. Because of this constant stress, nurse burnout is becoming a real concern in the healthcare field. Burnout can cause physical illness and emotional distress, which can lead to conflict in both work and personal relationships. This is why RNs have an especially difficult time when it comes to their work-life balance. RNs can sometimes work long, grueling hours, which can lower their mental health, and their desire to continue to strive for excellence. RNs must find a work and leisure balance that works for them or else burnout is unavoidable. Burnout is a leading cause of the current nurse shortage.
demand for RN’s
There is currently a demand for RNs, as many are reaching retirement age or resigning because of stress, burnout, and heavy workload after the pandemic. It is projected that the U.S. will need 203,200 RNs from now until 2031 to fill new positions, but also replace those who leave the profession. The job outlook is expected to grow by 6 percent, which is a faster average than all other occupations. RNs are a huge part of the healthcare process and it is a necessity that all jobs are filled to reduce the chances of medical malpractice.
Personal Take
Becoming a registered nurse appeals to me because of the job’s constant structure and hands-on nature. Though nursing can be difficult and taxing, at the end of the day the way that they can affect people’s lives for the better is so intriguing. Nursing requires such direct involvement through patient interaction and constant thinking on your toes thinking about solutions, that I couldn’t begin to imagine how someone would want to work a 9-5.
Resources I used and Where You Can Learn More
Writers, Staff. “How to Become a Registered Nurse.” NurseJournal.org, 8 Oct. 2024, nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/how-to-become-a-rn.
“What Does a Registered Nurse (RN) Do?” Regis College, 28 Jan. 2021, www.regiscollege.edu/blog/nursing/what-does-registered-nurse-do#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20a%20registered%20nurse%20 might,care%2C%20addiction%2C%20or%20rehabilitation.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, August 29). Registered nurses. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
Writers, Staff. “10 Benefits to Pursuing a Career in Nursing – NurseJournal.org.” NurseJournal.org, 20 Sept. 2024, nursejournal.org/articles/benefits-to-pursuing-a-career-in-nursing.
Quinn, Jayme, and Jayme Quinn. “Why Work-Life Balance Is Important for Nurses | UT Permian Basin Online.” The University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB, 28 June 2022, online.utpb.edu/about-us/articles/nursing/why-work-life-balance-is-important-for-nurses.
Admin. “The Importance of Nurses: 6 Ways Nurses Change Lives.” Madonna, 2 Aug. 2023, absn.madonna.edu/blog/the-importance-of-nurses.
WebMD Editorial Contributor. “What Is a Registered Nurse?” WebMD, 17 July 2023, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-registered-nurse.
—. “Why Are Nurses in Demand? The Nursing Shortage, Explained.” Marquette, 26 June 2023, mastersnursing.marquette.edu/blog/why-are-nurses-in-demand.
“What Does a Registered Nurse (RN) Do?” Regis College, 28 Jan. 2021, www.regiscollege.edu/blog/nursing/what-does-registered-nurse-do#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20a%20registered%20nurse%20might,care%2C%20addiction%2C%20or%20rehabilitation.