Careers: How To Become A Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses (RN) are the individuals in the health care field that provide and direct patient care, monitor health conditions of patients, and administer medication. Registered nurses also partake in using medical equipment, participating in minor medical procedures, and educating the patient’s families on the patient’s condition, care during the hospital stay, and care after the hospital stay (“Registered Nurse Job Description”, n.d). Registered nurses are also in charge in educating not only to patients but to the public about serious health conditions, as well as, preventative measures and what to do if faced with it. One important component of a registered nurse’s job is to provide emotional support to patients and their families
It can range from diploma programs to a bachelor’s degree. Students can begin in their college years by either pursuing an associate in nursing or enroll in an associate-to-bachelor’s RN program. Regardless both associate degrees and the associate-to-bachelor’s RN program normally take about two to three years to complete depending on the student’s schedule (“How to Become a Registered Nurse: RN Programs & Careers”, n.d) . This degree is based on general education requirements sharing the same courses as the nursing diploma (“How to Become a Registered Nurse: RN Programs & Careers”, n.d).
Students also hold the option to complete a diploma program in place of an associate’s degree. Diploma programs are offered at hospitals and take around three years to complete; same as the associate’s degree. Nursing diplomas are based on hands-on training with nursing coursework such as courses in anatomy and biology (“How to Become a Registered Nurse: RN Programs & Careers”,
Each state vary in their requirements for earning a license (“How to Become an RN”, n.d).
Employment
As nursing is one of the most demanding careers in society, the employment of registered nurses is estimated to increase 19 to 22.6 percent from 2012 to 2022 for the state of Florida, although the average projection nationwide stands at around 25 percent (“Registered Nurse Salary & Career Outlook”, n.d). The reasons behind the faster than average growth rate is due to the growing number of chronic diseases and the aging baby boomer population.
For an entry-level registered nurse, the average salary of $41,181-$71,719 weighing for an hourly wage of $24 and adding $14-$50 if working overtime (“Entry-Level Registered Nurse (RN)