Job Description For a Registered Nurse

As job prospects for registered nurses (RN) are supposed to be excellent with above average growth according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this might be a good job to go into if you are in the process of choosing a career. Of course, you should check out the job description for a registered nurse before you make any decisions so that you can decide whether or not this would be something you would be willing and able to do.



A registered nurse's job description includes information on the education and training required, the nature of the work, and the amount you can expect to be paid. There are a lot of different websites that you can check out for complete details of what is involved in the job of a RN, including that of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the PayScale website.



In order to become a RN, you need to complete a program that gives you a diploma (offered by hospitals), associates degree in nursing, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that prepares you for the licensing exams that are required.



Those with a BSN will have more opportunities, so many nurses with lesser degrees later return to school in order to get their BSN or even their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).



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.



Nurses can specialize in certain areas, as well as work in a variety of different environments, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, and nursing homes. They can also take positions involving home health care where they go to the homes of their clients. A RN's responsibilities will include providing nursing care to patients, as well as assessing patient health and developing plans for nursing care. They also need to maintain records, and sometimes advise patients on care and prevention for certain illnesses.



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.