How To Become a Registered Nurse (RN)
What Is an RN?
A registered nurse is responsible for managing and coordinating the various aspects of a patient’s care. An RN can assess patients, request medical tests, make diagnoses and administer treatments. RNs work alongside the healthcare team in caring for the patient.
For patients, and particularly for hospitalized patients, RNs are the most frequent point of contact within the healthcare system. Patients rely on nurses to help them understand their diagnoses and treatment recommendations, learn how to take care of themselves, make healthy lifestyle changes, and navigate the healthcare system.
However, registered nurses provide much more than just patient care. They often work with patients during some of the most difficult and trying times of their lives. RNs are an important resource for patients’ family members who rely on nurses to keep them informed of their loved one’s condition.
As of 2022, registered nurses held approximately 3.2 million jobs in the U.S.(See disclaimer 1)
What Does an RN Do?
When researching how to become an RN, it is valuable to know the specific job tasks of an RN that you will be expected to perform, as well as explore, what does an RN do? Nurses not only provide patient care, but also educate patients to help them understand how to manage their injuries, illnesses or chronic medical conditions once they are discharged.
Nurses are expected to demonstrate sound nursing judgment and clinical best practices. They must also carefully follow all regulations, including those issued by professional nursing associations and their own healthcare organizations, as well as federal, state and local authorities.
A day in the life of a registered nurse will vary by area of specialization, but in general, it may include any of the following:
Assess
Nurses assess the condition of patients and conduct physical examinations.
Nursing Diagnosis
Using information from tests and examinations, nurses use their judgment to provide nursing diagnosis.
Plan
Nurses review, develop and contribute to patient care plans, perform tests and procedures, administer medications and set up intravenous infusions.
Implementation
They put care plans into action, implement goals and provide direct care to the patient.
Evaluation
They assess the effectiveness of the treatment, which may also include evaluations and care plan adjustments.
What Education and Experience Does a Registered Nurse Need?
Those wondering how to become an RN should understand the educational requirements. Aspiring nurses must first complete a nursing degree from an accredited university. After earning your degree, you will need to complete and pass the NCLEX-RN(See disclaimer ®) exam in order to gain licensure and practice as a registered nurse.
This educational route can lead you to a variety of different options as a nursing professional in the healthcare field. You can be prepared to apply your advanced knowledge and skills to serve others in your community in a variety of ways.
High School Diploma
College Degree
Entry-Level Roles
Professional Certifications
Best Degrees for a Registered Nurse
There are many different nursing degree options available to you that can help you on your way to becoming a registered nurse. You first want to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
An undergraduate nursing degree will also teach you holistic, evidence-based practices so you can provide quality care to your patients.
Baccalaureate nursing degrees can cover a range of critical topics, including:
Nursing foundations
Health assessment
Behavioral health nursing
Research and evidence-based nursing practices
Leadership and ethics in nursing
Population/community health
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Registered Nurses
Depending on your previous education and experience, one nursing program may be more ideal for you than another. Our pre-licensure degree programs are designed to provide you with a solid foundation in nursing studies and other important components of the healthcare field, ultimately helping to prepare you for a career as a nursing professional.
What Skills Does a Registered Nurse Need?
Registered nurses require a diverse set of skills to be able to properly and effectively perform a multitude of critical tasks.
Along with the technical skills that nurses learn from their degree programs, there are other soft skills they must possess, including:(See disclaimer 3)
Communication
Critical thinking
Confidence
Teamwork
Empathy
Conflict resolution
Adaptability
Ability to take initiative
Resilience
Professionalism
Where Do Registered Nurse Work?
RNs can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, from primary care practices to plastic surgery offices to emergency rooms.
Some of these common workplace possibilities include:(See disclaimer 1)
Hospitals
As of 2022, about 59% of nurses work in a state, local or private hospital setting.(See disclaimer 1) This makes this workplace setting the largest employer of registered nurses.
Ambulatory healthcare services
These settings include physicians' offices, home healthcare and outpatient care centers, and can include a variety of different nursing positions and specialties. Approximately 18% of registered nurses work in this sector.(See disclaimer 1)
Residential care
Residential care facilities are typically smaller facilities that house senior residents who require care, but not necessarily around the clock. Registered nurses and nurses make up a critical part of their care teams.
Educational services
This can include state, local and private educational settings. Registered nurses may find themselves serving those who work at or attend different educational settings, such as school districts or universities.
Median annual wage for registered nurses as of May 2023(See disclaimer 4)
Estimated job growth for registered nurses from 2022 to 2032(See disclaimer 5)
Advancement Opportunities Within Nursing
GCU also offers advanced nursing degree programs for those looking to pursue advanced learning and potentially position themselves for more extensive job opportunities. These nursing offerings include programs such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, offered with a variety of emphases options, such as health informatics, leadership in healthcare systems and nursing education. These options can help you specialize in your area of interest as a nursing professional.
Explore More on Nursing
Stay informed with the latest insights and updates on nursing careers.
If you’re passionate about healthcare and interested in a career that would allow you to help others, you might consider a career in nursing.
Even if you’re already a working registered nurse (RN), you may be thinking about pursuing additional education to advance your career goals.
There is a demand for qualified nursing professionals in the U.S., making this a great time to explore nursing degree programs.
Consider earning your nursing degree at Grand Canyon University. The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers various registered nursing degree options to suit a diverse range of learners.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Registered Nurses. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2024.
- Deering, M. (2024, Feb. 23). Guide to Entry-level Nursing. NurseJournal. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2024.
- Bonsall, L. (2021, Jan. 16). Essential Skills for Nurses: Skills That Are Anything But “Soft.” NursingCenter. Retrieved Jan. 26, 2024.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Registered Nurses, as of May 2023, retrieved April 22, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as registered nurses, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, retrieved Jan. 26, 2024.