Healthcare practitioners
Registered nurse
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.
Median pay
$97,550
Growth to 2035
+6%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
180,800
Time to qualify*
1.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Registered nurse
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- NCLEX-RN exam · State RN license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Registered nurse: 25% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
- 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.
Also called: Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR) · Charge Nurse · Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse) · Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse) · Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN) · Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse) · Relief Charge Nurse · School Nurse
Outlook and AI
Registered nurses held 3,465,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 3,660,100 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Registered nurse vs. Licensed practical nurse (LPN)
- Registered nurse vs. Physician assistant
- Registered nurse vs. Nurse practitioner
- Registered nurse vs. Dental hygienist
- Registered nurse vs. Radiologic technologist
- Registered nurse vs. Healthcare administrator
- Registered nurse vs. Elementary school teacher
- Registered nurse vs. Nurse midwife
- Registered nurse vs. Nurse anesthetist
- Registered nurse vs. Nursing assistant