What Is RN Nursing and What Do Registered Nurses Do
RN nursing refers to the profession of a Registered Nurse, a licensed healthcare professional who coordinates patient care, educates patients and the public, and provides emotional support. RNs work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and home health settings, often serving as the primary point of contact for patients and their families according to Forbes.
Daily responsibilities include assessing patient conditions, administering medications, operating medical equipment, and collaborating with physicians and other healthcare team members. RNs may specialize in areas such as critical care, oncology, pediatrics, or informatics, with advanced practice roles like Nurse Practitioners requiring additional certification and education.
RN Education Pathways, Licensing, and Key Employers
To become an RN, candidates typically complete one of three educational paths: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a state-approved nursing diploma program. After graduating, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to obtain a license per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Major employers of RNs include hospital systems like HCA Healthcare, Ascension Health, and Kaiser Permanente, as well as government agencies and home healthcare services. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% growth in RN employment from 2022 to 2032, with over 190,000 job openings annually on average during that decade.
RN Salary, Specializations, and Career Advancement
The median annual wage for registered nurses was $81,220 in May 2023, with the top 10% earning more than $120,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Specializations such as Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners typically command higher salaries and require graduate-level education and additional certification.
Career advancement often involves moving into leadership roles like Nurse Manager or Clinical Nurse Specialist, or transitioning into healthcare administration, informatics, or education. Some RNs pursue a BSN through RN-to-BSN bridge programs to meet the growing preference for bachelor's-prepared nurses in hospitals and health systems as noted by the American Nurses Association.