Every day is different. My days typically start with a shift huddle which is a meeting between all of the nurses, the charge nurse, and our manager to go over the status of the department and our roles for the day. I care for a mixture of medical and trauma patients with interesting and complex medical situations. Some days are really busy and others are calm, but I have to be ready to go at all times.
CAREER
Registered Nurses
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$75,330
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+7.2% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Bachelor's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Registered Nurses Do
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.
Other Job Titles Registered Nurses May Have
Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse, Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse), Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse), Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN), Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse), Relief Charge Nurse, School Nurse, Staff Nurse, Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse)
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
I may begin at the office or field. If I start at the office, I check my email, update my calendar, prep my patient charts, and call patients. Then I head to home visits. I drive throughout the city doing home visits for 3-4 patients. Every home visit is completely different due to the varying lives my patients live. Every patient is unique but they all have one thing in common: they are first-time moms. My job is to guide them in achieving goals and becoming healthy for the baby and themselves.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Registered Nurses
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (53%)
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Nursing Science
Graduate
Programs for Foreign Lawyers
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Women's Health Nurse/Nursing
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
People skills! Knowing how to interact with others effectively is key to the "bed-side manner" that medical professionals need to have.
Communication skills are very important as a nurse. I learned a lot of those skills from my previous customer service jobs. Nursing involves a lot of interviewing patients, anticipating patient needs, making them feel comfortable, and being able to relate to them.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
I could have chosen any of those fields to put in, whether still in school, or already out pursuing another career. It all starts with the passion to do something. Then find people to talk to who can answer your questions and give you insight into what the job entails. Try to even job shadow.
Get ready for tedious coursework and eating breathing and sleeping nursing.
Get ready for huge accountability and stress but all rewarding.
Please don't go into the profession if you are not a people person.
There are volunteer opportunities and school assignments that can be completed in a hospital maternity setting. I worked with a student that joined me for several hours over the course of her term, so she could learn more about what a Lactation Consultant does. This way, one can feel what the environment is like, working in a hospital, and to see if the work still seems interesting. If you are in California studying Spanish helps a lot. Also, imagine yourself as being there already.
Registered Nurse
Volunteer or intern at a hospital to gain exposure and guide your decision to choosing a preferred specialty. Don't worry you can change your specialty down the road. Get a head start and save by enrolling in your local community college and take prerequisite classes. Try not to "C" your way through these classes. Exceptional grades and a good understanding of the educational content is important. You will be saving lives.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
