Salary of Registered Nurse Overview

What is A registered nurse?

Registered nurses care for sick, injured and healthy patients in various settings and teach people the best health and wellness practices.

“We can take on many roles beyond the hospital setting, but I think what unites us is that we support our patients or We support them. “It could be providing clinical care, connecting our patients to resources or making sure … they’re safe at home.”

The specific duties of an RN depend largely on the environment in which they work. For example, public health nurses may staff a blood drive or host programs that educate the community about the warning signs of disease. Pediatric nurses care for children and may work in a doctor’s office, while other nurses provide special care in a hospital intensive care unit.

The places where registered nurses work are as varied as the training programs available to prepare them for the job.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 9 percent for registered nurses between 2020 and 2030. During this period, about 276,800 jobs should be created.

How much does a registered nurse earn?

The median salary for registered nurses in 2020 was $75,330. The top 25 percent earned $93,590 that year, while the lowest paid 25 percent earned $61,630.

How to become A registered nurse?

There are many different paths to becoming an RN, and which one is right for you may depend on your long-term goals. Each requires a combination of classroom work and supervised clinical experience, but they vary in scope. Prospective nurses can enter this field after earning a diploma from an approved program or completing an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Earning an associate’s degree in nursing usually takes less time than a bachelor’s degree and allows you to enter the field sooner. But those hoping to pursue a management role or an advanced position that requires a master’s degree, such as nurse doctor, may find it more beneficial to choose a bachelor’s degree. In addition, Wells says, some hospitals, particularly those aiming for magnet hospital designation, prefer to hire nurses with bachelor’s degrees.

Some people enter this field after obtaining a master’s degree in nursing. Those with a bachelor’s degree in something other than nursing can still find suitable master’s programs in the field. There are also accelerated online learning pathways and other nursing degrees.

“A lot of programs, especially now, offer distance programs where you can do coursework online and then find a local community site where you can do clinical hours,” Wells says.

Registered nurses must obtain licensure in the state in which they wish to practice, which includes passing a statewide exam and meeting specific state requirements.

Job Satisfaction

The average American works well into their 60s, so workers may have an enjoyable and fulfilling career. A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance, and strong prospects for improvement, promotion, and higher pay make many employees happy. Here’s how Registered nurses Job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.