Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with
2.4 million jobs.
About 3 out of 5 jobs are in hospitals.
The three major
educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate
degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program.
Registered nurses
are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations;
job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to
be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining
enough RNs.
Nature of the Work
Registered nurses (RNs), regardless of specialty or work setting, perform basic
duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public about
various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients’
family members. RNs record patients’ medical histories and symptoms, help to perform
diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment
and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.
RNs
teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including
post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration
of medication and physical therapy. Some RNs also are trained to provide grief
counseling to family members of critically ill patients. RNs work to promote general
health by educating the public on various warning signs and symptoms of disease
and where to go for help. RNs also might run general health screening or immunization
clinics, blood drives, and public seminars on various conditions.
RNs can
specialize in one or more patient care specialties. The most common specialties
can be divided into roughly four categories—by work setting or type of treatment;
disease, ailment, or condition; organ or body system type; or population. RNs
may combine specialties from more than one area—for example, pediatric oncology
or cardiac emergency—depending on personal interest and employer needs.
RNs
may specialize by work setting or by type of care provided. For example, ambulatory
care nurses treat patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries on an
outpatient basis, either in physicians’ offices or in clinics. Some ambulatory
care nurses are involved in telehealth, providing care and advice through electronic
communications media such as videoconferencing or the Internet. Critical care
nurses work in critical or intensive care hospital units and provide care
to patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or pulmonary failure. Emergency,
or trauma, nurses work in hospital emergency departments and treat patients
with life-threatening conditions caused by accidents, heart attacks, and strokes.
Some emergency nurses are flight nurses, who provide medical care to patients
who must be flown by helicopter to the nearest medical facility. Holistic nurses
provide care such as acupuncture, massage and aroma therapy, and biofeedback,
which are meant to treat patients’ mental and spiritual health in addition to
their physical health. Home health care nurses provide at-home care for
patients who are recovering from surgery, accidents, and childbirth. Hospice
and palliative care nurses provide care for, and help ease the pain of, terminally
ill patients outside of hospitals. Infusionnurses administer medications,
fluids, and blood to patients through injections into patients’ veins. Long-
term care nurses provide medical services on a recurring basis to patients
with chronic physical or mental disorders. Medical-surgical nurses provide
basic medical care to a variety of patients in all health settings. Occupational
health nurses provide treatment for job-related injuries and illnesses and
help employers to detect workplace hazards and implement health and safety standards.
Perianesthesia nurses provide preoperative and postoperative care to patients
undergoing anesthesia during surgery. Perioperative nurses assist surgeons
by selecting and handling instruments, controlling bleeding, and suturing incisions.
Some of these nurses also can specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Psychiatric nurses treat patients with personality and mood disorders.
Radiologic nurses provide care to patients undergoing diagnostic radiation
procedures such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging. Rehabilitation
nurses care for patients with temporary and permanent disabilities. Transplant
nurses care for both transplant recipients and living donors and monitor signs
of organ rejection.
RNs specializing in a particular disease, ailment, or
condition are employed in virtually all work settings, including physicians’ offices,
outpatient treatment facilities, home health care agencies, and hospitals. For
instance, addictions nurses treat patients seeking help with alcohol, drug,
and tobacco addictions. Developmental disabilitiesnurses provide
care for patients with physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities; care may
include help with feeding, controlling bodily functions, and sitting or standing
independently. Diabetes management nurses help diabetics to manage their
disease by teaching them proper nutrition and showing them how to test blood sugar
levels and administer insulin injections. Genetics nurses provide early
detection screenings and treatment of patients with genetic disorders, including
cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease. HIV/AIDS nurses care for patients
diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. Oncology nurses care for patients with various
types of cancer and may administer radiation and chemotherapies. Finally, wound,
ostomy, and continence nurses treat patients with wounds caused by traumatic
injury, ulcers, or arterial disease; provide postoperative care for patients with
openings that allow for alternative methods of bodily waste elimination; and treat
patients with urinary and fecal incontinence.
RNs specializing in treatment
of a particular organ or body system usually are employed in specialty physicians’
offices or outpatient care facilities, although some are employed in hospital
specialty or critical care units. For example, cardiac and vascular nurses
treat patients with coronary heart disease and those who have had heart surgery,
providing services such as postoperative rehabilitation. Dermatology nurses
treat patients with disorders of the skin, such as skin cancer and psoriasis.
Gastroenterology nurses treat patients with digestive and intestinal disorders,
including ulcers, acid reflux disease, and abdominal bleeding. Some nurses in
this field also specialize in endoscopic procedures, which look inside the gastrointestinal
tract using a tube equipped with a light and a camera that can capture images
of diseased tissue. Gynecology nurses provide care to women with disorders
of the reproductive system, including endometriosis, cancer, and sexually transmitted
diseases. Nephrology nurses care for patients with kidney disease caused
by diabetes, hypertension, or substance abuse. Neurosciencenurses
care for patients with dysfunctions of the nervous system, including brain and
spinal cord injuries and seizures. Ophthalmicnurses provide care
to patients with disorders of the eyes, including blindness and glaucoma, and
to patients undergoing eye surgery. Orthopedic nurses care for patients
with muscular and skeletal problems, including arthritis, bone fractures, and
muscular dystrophy. Otorhinolaryngology nurses care for patients with ear,
nose, and throat disorders, such as cleft palates, allergies, and sinus disorders.
Respiratory nurses provide care to patients with respiratory disorders
such as asthma, tuberculosis, and cystic fibrosis. Urology nurses care
for patients with disorders of the kidneys, urinary tract, and male reproductive
organs, including infections, kidney and bladder stones, and cancers.
Finally,
RNs may specialize by providing preventive and acute care in all health care settings
to various segments of the population, including newborns (neonatology), children
and adolescents (pediatrics), adults, and the elderly (gerontology or geriatrics).
RNs also may provide basic health care to patients outside of health care settings
in such venues as including correctional facilities, schools, summer camps, and
the military. Some RNs travel around the United States and abroad providing care
to patients in areas with shortages of medical professionals.
Most RNs work
as staff nurses, providing critical health care services along with physicians,
surgeons, and other health care practitioners. However, some RNs choose to become
advanced practice nurses, who often are considered primary health care practitioners
and work independently or in collaboration with physicians. For example, clinical
nurse specialists provide direct patient care and expert consultations in
one of many of the nursing specialties listed above. Nurse anesthetists
administer anesthesia, monitor patient’s vital signs during surgery, and provide
post-anesthesia care. Nurse midwives provide primary care to women, including
gynecological exams, family planning advice, prenatal care, assistance in labor
and delivery, and neonatal care. Nurse practitioners provide basic preventive
health care to patients, and increasingly serve as primary and specialty care
providers in mainly medically underserved areas. The most common areas of specialty
for nurse practitioners are family practice, adult practice, women’s health, pediatrics,
acute care, and gerontology; however, there are many other specialties. In most
States, advanced practice nurses can prescribe medications.
Some nurses
have jobs that require little or no direct patient contact. Most of these positions
still require an active RN license. Case managers ensure that all of the
medical needs of patients with severe injuries and illnesses are met, including
the type, location, and duration of treatment. Forensics nurses combine
nursing with law enforcement by treating and investigating victims of sexual assault,
child abuse, or accidental death. Infection control nurses identify, track,
and control infectious outbreaks in health care facilities; develop methods of
outbreak prevention and biological terrorism responses; and staff immunization
clinics. Legal nurse consultants assist lawyers in medical cases by interviewing
patients and witnesses, organizing medical records, determining damages and costs,
locating evidence, and educating lawyers about medical issues. Nurse administrators
supervise nursing staff, establish work schedules and budgets, and maintain medical
supply inventories. Nurse educators teach student nurses and also provide
continuing education for RNs. Nurse informaticists collect, store, and
analyze nursing data in order to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and improve
patient care. RNs also may work as health care consultants, public policy advisors,
pharmaceutical and medical supply researchers and salespersons, and medical writers
and editors.
Working Conditions
Most RNs work in well-lighted, comfortable health care facilities. Home health
and public health nurses travel to patients’ homes, schools, community centers,
and other sites. RNs may spend considerable time walking and standing. Patients
in hospitals and nursing care facilities require 24-hour care; consequently, nurses
in these institutions may work nights, weekends, and holidays. RNs also may be
on call—available to work on short notice. Nurses who work in office settings
are more likely to work regular business hours. About 23 percent of RNs worked
part time in 2004, and 7 percent held more than one job.
Nursing has its
hazards, especially in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and clinics, where
nurses may care for individuals with infectious diseases. RNs must observe rigid,
standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers, such as those
posed by radiation, accidental needle sticks, chemicals used to sterilize instruments,
and anesthetics. In addition, they are vulnerable to back injury when moving patients,
shocks from electrical equipment, and hazards posed by compressed gases. RNs who
work with critically ill patients also may suffer emotional strain from observing
patient suffering and from close personal contact with patients’ families.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
In all States and the District of
Columbia, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national
licensing examination, known as the NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license.
Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination or by the
endorsement of a license issued by another State. Currently 18 States participate
in the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement, which allows nurses to practice in member
States without recertifying. All States require periodic renewal of licenses,
which may involve continuing education.
There are three major educational
paths to registered nursing: A bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN),
an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by
colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. In 2004, 674 nursing
programs offered degrees at the bachelor’s level. ADN programs, offered by community
and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. About 846 RN programs
in 2004 granted associate degrees. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals,
last about 3 years. Only 69 programs offered diplomas in 2004. Generally, licensed
graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level
positions as staff nurses.
Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s
programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find
a staff nurse position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits
to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2004, there were 600
RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master’s degree programs
in nursing also are available. These programs combine 1 year of an accelerated
BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2004, there were 137 RN-to-MSN
programs.
Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who
have a bachelor’s or higher degree in another field and who are interested in
moving into nursing. In 2004, more than 165 of these programs were available.
Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to
a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree.
Individuals considering
nursing should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in
a BSN program, because, if they do, their advancement opportunities usually are
broader. In fact, some career paths are open only to nurses with a bachelor’s
or master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree often is necessary for administrative
positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in
research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical
nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.
Individuals who complete a bachelor’s receive more training in areas such as communication,
leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as
nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor’s degree programs offer
more clinical experience in nonhospital settings. In 2004, 417 nursing schools
offered master’s degrees, 93 offered doctoral degrees, and 46 offered accelerated
BSN-to-doctoral programs.
All four advanced practice nursing specialties
require at least a master’s degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require
a BSN degree and some programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience
as an RN for admission. In 2004, there were 329 master’s and post-master’s programs
offered for nurse practitioners, 218 master’s and post-master’s programs for clinical
nurse specialists, 92 programs for nurse anesthetists, and 45 programs for nurse
midwives. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally
certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification in a specialty
is required in order to practice that specialty.
All nursing education programs
include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals
and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology,
microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences,
and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.
Supervised
clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry,
maternity, and surgery. A growing number of programs include clinical experience
in nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and
ambulatory clinics.
Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and
detail oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess
patients’ conditions, and determine when consultation is required. They need emotional
stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.
Some
RNs start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then
go back to school to receive their RN degree. Most RNs begin as staff nurses,
and with experience and good performance often are promoted to more responsible
positions. In management, nurses can advance to assistant head nurse or head nurse
and, from there, to assistant director, director, and vice president. Increasingly,
management-level nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in
nursing or health services administration. They also require leadership, negotiation
skills, and good judgment.
Some nurses move into the business side of health
care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them
to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers—including
hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care
organizations, among others—need RNs for health planning and development, marketing,
consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college
and university faculty or conduct research.
Foreign-educated nurses wishing
to work in the United States must obtain a work visa. Applicants are required
to undergo a review of their education and licensing credentials and pass a nursing
certification and English proficiency exam, both conducted by the Commission on
Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. (The commission is an immigration-neutral,
nonprofit organization that is recognized internationally as an authority on credentials
evaluation in the health care field.) Applicants from Australia, Canada (except
Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are exempt from the language
proficiency exam. In addition to these national requirements, most States have
their own requirements.
Employment
As the largest health care occupation, registered nurses held about 2.4 million
jobs in 2004. About 3 out of 5 jobs were in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient
departments. Others worked in offices of physicians, nursing care facilities,
home health care services, employment services, government agencies, and outpatient
care centers. The remainder worked mostly in social assistance agencies and educational
services, public and private. About 1 in 4 RNs worked part time.
Job Outlook
Job opportunities for RNs in all specialties are expected to be excellent.
Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than average for
all occupations through 2014, and, because the occupation is very large, many
new jobs will result. In fact, registered nurses are projected to create the second
largest number of new jobs among all occupations. Thousands of job openings also
will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation,
especially as the median age of the registered nurse population continues to rise.
Much
faster-than-average growth will be driven by technological advances in patient
care, which permit a greater number of medical problems to be treated, and by
an increasing emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people,
who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected
to grow rapidly.
Employers in some parts of the country and in certain employment
settings are reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number
of RNs, primarily because of an aging RN workforce and a lack of younger workers
to fill positions. Enrollments in nursing programs at all levels have increased
more rapidly in the past couple of years as students seek jobs with stable employment.
However, many qualified applicants are being turned away because of a shortage
of nursing faculty to teach classes. The need for nursing faculty will only increase
as a large number of instructors nears retirement. Many employers also are relying
on foreign-educated nurses to fill open positions.
Even though employment
opportunities for all nursing specialties are expected to be excellent, they can
vary by employment setting. For example, employment is expected to grow more slowly
in hospitals—which comprise health care’s largest industry—than in most other
health care industries. While the intensity of nursing care is likely to increase,
requiring more nurses per patient, the number of inpatients (those who remain
in the hospital for more than 24 hours) is not likely to grow by much. Patients
are being discharged earlier, and more procedures are being done on an outpatient
basis, both inside and outside hospitals. Rapid growth is expected in hospital
outpatient facilities, such as those providing same-day surgery, rehabilitation,
and chemotherapy.
Despite the slower employment growth in hospitals, job
opportunities should still be excellent because of the relatively high turnover
of hospital nurses. RNs working in hospitals frequently work overtime and night
and weekend shifts and also treat seriously ill and injured patients, all of which
can contribute to stress and burnout. Hospital departments in which these working
conditions occur most frequently—critical care units, emergency departments, and
operating rooms—generally will have more job openings than other departments.
To
attract and retain qualified nurses, hospitals may offer signing bonuses, family-friendly
work schedules, or subsidized training. A growing number of hospitals also are
experimenting with online bidding to fill open shifts, in which nurses can volunteer
to fill open shifts at premium wages. This can decrease the amount of mandatory
overtime that nurses are required to work.
More and more sophisticated procedures,
once performed only in hospitals, are being performed in physicians’ offices and
in outpatient care centers, such as freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency
centers. Accordingly, employment is expected to grow much faster than average
in these places as health care in general expands. However, RNs may face greater
competition for these positions because they generally offer regular working hours
and more comfortable working environments.
Employment in nursing care facilities
is expected to grow faster than average because of increases in the number of
elderly, many of whom require long-term care. In addition, the financial pressure
on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible should produce more admissions
to nursing care facilities. Job growth also is expected in units that provide
specialized long-term rehabilitation for stroke and head injury patients, as well
as units that treat Alzheimer’s victims.
Employment in home health care
is expected to increase rapidly in response to the growing number of older persons
with functional disabilities, consumer preference for care in the home, and technological
advances that make it possible to bring increasingly complex treatments into the
home. The type of care demanded will require nurses who are able to perform complex
procedures.
Generally, RNs with at least a bachelor’s degree will have better
job prospects than those without a bachelor’s. In addition, all four advanced
practice specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, midwives,
and anesthetists—will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved
areas such as inner cities and rural areas. Relative to physicians, these RNs
increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $52,330 in May 2004. The middle
50 percent earned between $43,370 and $63,360. The lowest 10 percent earned less
than $37,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,760. Median annual
earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of registered nurses
in May 2004 were as follows:
Employment services
$63,170
General medical and surgical hospitals
53,450
Home health care services
48,990
Offices of physicians
48,250
Nursing care facilities
48,220
Many
employers offer flexible work schedules, child care, educational benefits, and
bonuses.
Related Occupations
Workers in other health care occupations with responsibilities and duties related
to those of registered nurses are cardiovascular technologists and technicians;
diagnostic medical sonographers; dietitians and nutritionists; emergency medical
technicians and paramedics; licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses;
massage therapists; medical and health services managers; nursing, psychiatric,
and home health aides; occupational therapists; physical therapists; physician
assistants; physicians and surgeons; radiologic technologists and technicians;
respiratory therapists; and surgical technologists.
Sources of Additional Information
For information on a career as a registered nurse and nursing education, contact:
National League for Nursing, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. Internet: http://www.nln.org/
For information
on nursing career options, financial aid, and listings of BSN, graduate, and accelerated
nursing programs, contact:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
1 Dupont Circle NW., Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/
For additional
information on registered nurses, including credentialing, contact:
American
Nurses Association, 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Internet:
http://nursingworld.org/
For information
on the NCLEX-RN exam and a list of individual States’ boards of nursing, contact:
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 111 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 2900,
Chicago, IL 60611. Internet: http://www.ncsbn.org/
For information on obtaining U.S. certification and work visas for
foreign-educated nurses, contact:
Commission on Graduates of Foreign
Nursing Schools, 3600 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Internet:
http://www.cgfns.org/
For a list of accredited clinical nurse specialist programs, contact:
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, 2090 Linglestown Rd.,
Suite 107, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Internet: http://www.nacns.org/cnsdirectory.shtml
For
information on nurse anesthetists, including a list of accredited programs, contact:
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 222 Prospect Ave., Park Ridge,
IL 60068.
For information on nurse midwives, including a list of
accredited programs, contact:
American College of Nurse-Midwives,
8403 Colesville Rd., Suite 1550, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Internet: http://www.midwife.org/
For information
on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, contact:
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, P.O. Box 12846, Austin, TX 78711.
Internet: http://www.aanp.org
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07
Edition,
Educational -- School Resources -- Masters
Degrees in Nursing -- An extensive list of schools offering Masters Degrees
in Nursing.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07
Edition,
