Career Spotlight: Registered Nurse (RN)
What Is a Registered Nurse?
A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed health care professional who works alongside other physicians and health care professionals to treat and educate patients and their families with the best care. Nurses can work in a wide range of specialties and in various settings. Many nurses begin with entry-level nursing roles and advance to higher positions.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Some people consider RNs the backbone of health care because they provide essential patient care and work closely with physicians. Their duties vary depending on their specialty and where they work, but some of their responsibilities include:
- Performing exams and health assessments
- Recording medical histories and symptoms
- Monitoring vital signs
- Using clinical skills to administer and monitor medicine and treatments
- Preparing patients for exams, procedures, or surgeries
- Developing and implementing care plans
- Operating and monitoring medical equipment
- Admitting and discharging patients
- Providing basic care and comfort
- Offering emotional support
- Educating patients and families
- Supervising and onboarding new nurses and students
Where Do RNs Work?
Registered nurses are found in a variety of environments. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities, doctor’s offices, prisons, and other health care facilities. Travel nurses move around the country or even the world to serve in areas where health care workers are scarce. Public health nurses can work in schools, community centers, and other public sites. It all depends on what you want to do, but that’s one of the best parts about being a nurse: You can specialize in almost any area you want!
What Are Some Important Skills an RN Needs?
To become a registered nurse, it takes more than just an education. It takes certain qualities and skills—both hard and soft. Hard skills are specific, testable abilities and knowledge that can be taught and measured. Soft skills are nontechnical, interpersonal abilities that can smooth interactions, build relationships, and cultivate a positive workplace. The following are some hard and soft skills you need to enter the nursing field:
Hard Skills
- Patient care — monitoring heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and other vital signs, as well as managing medications and infection control
- Urgent and emergency care — responding quickly to medical needs and managing urgent situations
- Technology skills — proficiency with electronic medical and health equipment
- Medication administration — safe and accurate delivery of medications
- Anatomy and physiology knowledge — applying clinical skills to patient care
Soft Skills
- Ethics and confidentiality — upholding patient privacy and following ethical standards
- Compassion and empathy — providing holistic, patient-centered care
- Emotional resilience — managing stress while providing compassionate care
- Teamwork and dependability — collaborating with health care teams and supporting staff
- Communication — verbal/nonverbal communication, active listening, and clear documentation
RN Salaries and Job Outlook
The median annual pay for all registered nurses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $93,600 in 2024. The actual salary you can expect, however, will vary depending on multiple factors, including your level of education, experience, and region. The BLS also reports that RN employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024-2034, which is faster than the average growth rate of all occupations.
How Excelsior Prepares You to Become an RN
If you’re looking to become a registered nurse, Excelsior University offers multiple degree paths. Our Associate in Applied Science in Nursing program offers a flexible, competency-based path that combines online courses with in-person practicums, putting you on the path to earning your degree. Designed for LPNs, LVNs, paramedics, and certain military personnel, the program builds on prior experience to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN and real-world patient care. Graduates can also seamlessly transition into Excelsior’s RN to BS in Nursing program, applying earned credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
For Florida residents, Excelsior also offers our hybrid BS in Nursing program. Students from all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to enroll in this prelicensure program, including beginners who have never worked in health care. The curriculum is a combination of online coursework; in-person labs at Excelsior’s site in St. Petersburg, Florida; and immersive clinical experiences with clinical partners in the greater Tampa Bay area. Graduates will have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pass the NCLEX-RN and start their careers as registered nurses.
Ready to start on your path toward a career as an RN? Check out the School of Nursing’s application requirements or contact our admissions team to learn more. With our flexible courses, experienced faculty, and robust support resources, Excelsior University is here to help you realize your dream career in nursing.
Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 12928.
