Registered Nurses

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.

Median Annual Wage: $66,640

Education: Associate's degree (66%); Bachelor's degree (23%); Some college, no degree (11%)

Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)

Related Job Titles: Charge Nurse; Registered Nurse (RN); Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse); Staff Nurse; Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN); Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse); Director of Nursing (DON); Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse); Public Health Nurse (PHN); School Nurse

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Registered Nurses.

More Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Careers

  • Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
  • Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
  • Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
  • Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
  • Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
  • Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
  • Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
  • Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
  • Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
  • Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
  • Assess the needs of individuals, families, or communities, including assessment of individuals' home or work environments, to identify potential health or safety problems.
  • Prepare rooms, sterile instruments, equipment, or supplies and ensure that stock of supplies is maintained.
  • Refer students or patients to specialized health resources or community agencies furnishing assistance.
  • Consult with institutions or associations regarding issues or concerns relevant to the practice and profession of nursing.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Registered Nurses.

  • 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.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Registered Nurses.

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