How to Become an RN: Education, Requirements & More
The pandemic proved the essential role nurses have in our society. They represent the foundation of the healthcare system, analyzing, assisting, and comforting patients.
One of the most common roles as a nurse is registered nurse, with over 3 million RNs across the country. Besides that, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that registered nurses will enjoy a 9 percent growth in employment in the next decade, with over 194,500 new job openings every year.
When individuals with a great interest in the medical field choose such a humane occupation and decide to become a registered nurse, they will receive significant job satisfaction, competitive salaries, and, most importantly, a respected role in society.
This guide will teach what a registered nurse is, what is required to become one, their duties and responsibilities, and their job outlook.
What is an RN?
A registered nurse (RN) is a qualified medical professional who works in various medical and community settings, providing hands-on care. The typical workplaces include hospitals, nursing homes, doctor's offices, long-term care facilities, prisons, homes, and other care facilities. They interact daily with patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
As a registered nurse, you are responsible for providing direct care to patients, contrary to licensed practical nurses who assist RNs and doctors in their daily tasks. RN spends a great effort coordinating the patient's care treatment, ensuring they receive the best treatment possible. Among their daily responsibilities is educating patients on their health conditions.
RN Duties & Responsibilities
Registered nurses are responsible for providing direct care to patients as well as coordinating their overall treatment. Part of an RN's work description is to recognize irregularities, assess patients, and deliver medication. Their job requires them to maintain communication with the team of healthcare specialists regularly.
Registered nurses assist many health-related duties, and they also see patients daily. The responsibilities that a registered nurse performs daily are determined by factors such as the type of facility, specialty, and patient. The following are some examples of registered nurse responsibilities:
Manage care - Registered nurses administer medications, treatments and prepares patients for exams and treatments;
Promote and maintain health - RNs teach patients and their families how to manage conditions as well as how to give post-treatment care;
Provide primary care and comfort - Monitor and observe patient's conditions and inform the physicians on their progress;
Support and educate - RN oversees LPNs and provides in-depth information on their illness or treatment to patients and their families.
How to Become an RN
You may be wondering what education you need to become a registered nurse?
Requirements to become an RN include completion of the academic qualifications, either an associate's degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in nursing and clinical nursing requirements, and the NCLEX-RN to achieve licensing in their state. Below you will learn more about how to become an RN.
What education is needed to become a registered nurse?
Becoming an RN, you are expected to devote 2-4 years to finish the required courses. The duration of your education is determined by whether you pursue a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor's degree. Prior nursing experience can shorten the time required to complete the degree, but programs with more clinical hours can take longer.
Interested in pursuing an RN degree in California?
Fill out the form and get all the detailed information you need regarding your chosen program.
Diploma program
One of the oldest nursing education is a diploma program during which students receive a diploma, opposite of a college degree.
A nursing diploma degree is a one to three-year course of study that prepares a student nurse for entry-level nursing positions. Prior to beginning nursing training, the curriculum contains prerequisite courses such as clinical practice, nursing informatics, and elements of patient care.
RNs with a diploma program have to take the state licensing exams same as the RNs with an associate or bachelor's degree.
ADN
An associate's degree in nursing (ADN) is a fast track to becoming a registered nurse. A two-year associate's degree in nursing provides the quickest path to becoming a registered nurse for those who don't have the time or money to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
After completing ADN, you must pass the NCLEX test as a registered nurse, allowing you to work in urgent care, acute hospitals, or mental health facilities.
However, because certain healthcare institutions demand or prefer a BSN degree, the degree may limit employment opportunities. A BSN degree is required if an RN wants to work in a more advanced practice nurse role, such as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse practitioner.
To advance your ADN education, you can take a BSN pathway through which you can take BSN courses in the third and fourth semesters alongside your ASN courses.
BSN
Another way on how to become an RN is pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree. It takes longer to become a registered nurse when you choose to get a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN). The four-year program is ideal for current RNs who want to accelerate their nursing education and career.
Besides the professional courses, the BSN curriculum offers extensive education in leadership, critical thinking, patient care coordination with doctors and other healthcare workers, and specialized medical expertise. The BSN program accelerates RN's knowledge on the political, ethical, economic, cultural, and social issues that influence patients and the treatment they receive.
In addition, a bachelor's degree in nursing teaches students about nursing administration, cultural sensitivity, how to integrate evidence into nursing practice, and current healthcare challenges.
NCLEX Exam
The National Council Licensure exam determines whether it's safe for you to begin practice as an entry-level nurse or not. The NCLEX-RN is different from exams you take during education as this is not a knowledge-based exam. In essence, the exam checks if you can apply in practice the knowledge you learned in school.
Students are eligible to apply for licensure and then register for the NCLEX-RN around six weeks before graduation. Test takers must complete a minimum of 75 questions on this computerized test, and they have six hours to complete the exam.
Board Certification
RNs who wish to advance in their professions and consequently earn more money should pursue board certification. RNs must have two or more years of clinical experience in a specialized area and pass an exam to qualify.
Although certifications are not required in nursing, they do give additional chances for professional development.
Skills & Training
While working for health care facilities, registered nurses often become part of different workshops or conferences to stay in touch with the latest nursing trends and improve patient care.
The skills that registered nurses gain from any of the degrees they've earned as well as the extra training over time include:
Patient and family education.
Patient safety.
Deliver nursing care
Nursing care of older adults,
Maternal and child nursing.
Technology skills.
Communication.
Critical thinking and problem-solving.
Time management.
Finding Work: RN Job Outlook
The registered nurse job outlook is expanding as the employment rate of registered nurses is expected to increase by 9%. Therefore, becoming a registered nurse (RN) allows you to join a rapidly expanding workforce of over three million people, have a direct impact on patient outcomes, and earn a competitive wage of $75,330 per year.
Registered nurses earn a yearly median salary of $73,300, while experienced RNs make $90,760 a year.
As a registered nurse, you can take on various positions though they differ based on your education level. With an ADN, RNs can work in healthcare facilities such as urgent care, acute hospitals, and home health care agencies. Whereas, with a BSN, RN can take more leadership and management roles such as advanced practice nurse, charge nurse, and nurse manager.
In conclusion, becoming an RN requires dedication and hard work. It doesn't matter whether you choose the shortcut towards becoming an RN and pursue an ADN degree or take a long way and pursue a BSN degree since, at the end of the day, your dream to help those in need will come