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Registered nurses (RNs) have one of the most vital roles in any hospital or place of care. They provide a crucial link between patients, families and doctors by helping doctors and other hospital staff assess patient needs, create and implement patient care plans, and maintaining patient medical records.
In addition, registered nurses care for injured, sick or disabled patients, as well as advise patients and their families on health maintenance issues and disease management. In some states registered nurses work in very specialized roles with a great deal of autonomy, while in others the scope of their nursing duties is much more limited. Most registered nurses, or RNs, work as part of a hospital staff, but some work as clinical nurse specialists to give direct care and consultation to patients.
RN Education Requirements: Degrees
Registered nurses can take one of three educational paths to be eligible to sit for a national licensing exam: earning an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing or a diploma from a certified nursing school. The majority of nurses complete associates and bachelor's degrees before sitting for the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN, to earn a nursing license.
Many students choose to pursue nursing degrees online, which can shorten the time it takes to complete an educational program. Typically, degrees that culminate in a bachelor's of science degree take four years to complete, while associate-level degrees in nursing take two to three years. Diploma programs administered by hospitals, which are rare, take about three years to finish. Accelerated programs that culminate in a master's degree in nursing take about three to four years to complete as well. RN education requirements vary by type of program and degree level sought.
RN Education Requirements: Coursework
Students who pursue bachelor's degrees usually take a full slate of liberal arts courses, as well as many nursing and health care-related classes, such as:
More specific coursework in nursing programs could include many of the following classes: medical vocabulary; concepts of professional nursing; health assessment; leadership in nursing; nursing theory; and health promotion in nursing. Since nurses must be excellent communicators with patients and physicians, many programs have a heavy emphasis on interpersonal and group communications.
Nursing programs also involve hands-on clinical work at hospitals, private practices, community clinics or other care giving institutions.
Registered Nurse Specialties and Career Options
There are many different careers paths registered nurses can take. Some work as ambulatory care nurses, others work in critical care, providing help to patients with serious and acute illnesses. Some work in hospital emergency rooms or trauma wards; still, others choose to specialize in a specific health condition, such as diabetes management.
Registered nurses also work as perioperative nurses, assisting surgeons in operating rooms. They can also be found working with specific organs, with the different bodily systems or with specific populations. For example, geriatric nurses work with elderly patients.
Continuing education is important for career advancement and development of additional knowledge and nursing skills. Professional nursing organizations, such as the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and many state nursing associations provide refresher courses and advanced, career-specific education. Other professional nursing organizations include the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses and American Society for Pain Management Nursing. An Internet search of nursing organizations can lead nurses interested in continuing education to the appropriate resource.
Resources for Registered Nurses:
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