Registered Nurses
Also called Charge Nurse, Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse), Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN), or Staff Nurse
What Registered Nurses do
Registered Nurses assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
Who tends to enjoy it
Helping
People who like teaching, caring for, and working closely with people.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
What you'll need to know
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Administrative
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Registered Nursing 2,125 colleges
- Family Practice Nurse / Nursing 362 colleges
- Nursing Practice 370 colleges
- Nursing Administration 279 colleges
- Psychiatric / Mental Health Nurse / Nursing 190 colleges
- Nursing Science 176 colleges
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other 141 colleges
- Adult Health Nurse / Nursing 108 colleges
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 29-1141.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.