For more information about Registered Nurses, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Cheryl Peterson, MSN, RN, American Nurses Association
Who is a Registered Nurse?
A Registered Nurse (RN) is someone who provides nursing care. Nursing care is defined as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response; and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (Nursing’s Social Policy Statement: Second Edition, American Nurses Association).
What does a Registered Nurse do?
Registered Nurses provide nursing care in a variety of settings, including ambulatory health centers, clinics, homes, hospice, hospitals, physician offices, independent practice, correctional facilities, nursing homes, occupational settings, nursing education, research, schools, and community health centers. Using the nursing process, a Registered Nurse will assess and treat patients and clients. The nursing process includes assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
In a hospital setting, Registered Nurses deliver primary clinical bedside care to the patient. This may include nursing assessments, medication administration, delivery of blood products, changing dressings, and alerting physicians to changes in a patient’s medical status. Often Registered Nurses are aided in the collection of vital signs and provision of personal care by patient care technicians. Registered Nurses must provide shift-to-shift communication on a patient’s clinical status. When a patient is transferred from one area of care to another within the hospital setting, such as a transfer from the ER to a telemetry unit, Registered Nurses must provide clinical communication to the new Registered Nurses assuming care of the patient.
What education, training, and experience must one have to function as a Registered Nurse?
There are three levels of education that qualify an individual to take the Registered Nurse examination:
In addition, postgraduate nursing education is also available. This usually leads to achieving an advanced practice registered nurse designation (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Nurse Practitioner). Additional education (master’s or doctoral level) can lead to a specialist role such as management, education, informatics, case management, or research.
Most state boards of nursing require that candidates for licensure hold a degree from an accredited school of nursing.
Specific requirements regarding training and experience are established by the facility that is seeking to hire the Registered Nurse.
How and by whom is a Registered Nurse supervised?
Registered Nurses are licensed professionals and are accountable for their own practice. Supervision is related to a Registered Nurse’s employment location. In hospitals, most units are managed by a head nurse who oversees the unit and its employees. Typically, Registered Nurses are not supervised by a physician or other health provider. An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is considered to be an independent practitioner whose supervision will depend on the practice setting.
What are the typical day-to-day activities of a Registered Nurse?
A typical day for a Registered Nurse is very much dependent on the practice setting. The day typically involves treatment of patients, collaboration with other Registered Nurses and health professionals, and critical thinking with regard to the needs of the patient, family, and/or community.
Must a Registered Nurse be licensed or certified to function in his or her role as part of the health care team?
All RNs must be licensed to practice. To be licensed, candidates must pass a state-based national licensure examination. After passing the exam and meeting any other state requirements, candidates then may apply to the individual state board of nursing for their license to practice as a Registered Nurse. Information on the state boards of nursing can be found at the website of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
For foreign-educated nurses, there is an additional prescreening process of the foreign-educated nurse’s home country license and education. The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is responsible for this prescreening process.
To maintain licensure, Registered Nurses must participate in approved continuing nursing education.
Specialty certification in nursing is, for the most part, voluntary. Some employers may require specialty certification, but this is not typical. Certification can be pursued through the specialty nursing organizations or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
What types of patients would benefit from the care of a Registered Nurse?
Nursing care is provided to all types of patients, their families, and their communities.
How and when does a Registered Nurse become involved in the care of a particular patient?
How and when a Registered Nurse becomes involved in the care of a patient depends largely on the Registered Nurse’s place of employment. For example, in a hospital, the Registered Nurse may receive a patient from the emergency department, following surgery or another diagnostic event, or directly from hospital admissions.
