Registered Nurses
What is a Registered Nurse?
Registered Nurses (RNs) are healthcare professionals who have completed the necessary education and training to provide patient care, coordinate treatment plans, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and offer advice and emotional support to patients and their families. RNs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and community health organizations.
The role of a Registered Nurse is multifaceted, involving direct patient care, assessment of patient health, administering medications, and collaborating with doctors and other healthcare professionals to devise and implement patient care plans. RNs are crucial in health promotion, disease prevention, and the overall improvement of patient quality of life.
Registered Nurses typically hold an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to practice. Continuous education and training are essential in this field to keep up with the evolving medical practices and technologies.
Tasks
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
Technology Skills
- Medical software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
Tools Used
- Peripherally inserted central catheters PICC
- Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances
- Acute care fetal or maternal monitoring units
- Endoscopic hemostatic balloons or needles or tubes or accessories
- Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment
Knowledge
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Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
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Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Skills
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Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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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.
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Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Abilities
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Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?
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Bachelor's degree
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Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
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Associate's degree
Work Activities
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Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Detailed Work Activities
- Record patient medical histories.
- Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- Administer non-intravenous medications.
- Maintain medical facility records.
- Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Work Interests
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Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
$63720.0 - $132680.0
This career will grow rapidly in the next few years and will have large numbers of openings.
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.