Nursing
Registered Nurse
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| Career data updated last on 10/28/2009 |
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Registered nurses (RNs) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. Nurses also direct and supervise nursing support personnel. In large hospitals, nurses may work in a certain area such as surgery or intensive care. They may also work with special groups of patients including children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.
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| Salary |
$40,250-$57,280-$69,850
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| Significant Points |
One of the 10 occupations projected to have the largest numbers of new jobs. Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016 and, because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. In fact, registered nurses are projected to generate 587,000 new jobs, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. Hundreds of thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who exit the occupation.
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| Specializations |
Registered nurses can specialize in any of these fields:
- Hospital nurse
- Surgical nurse
- Occupational health nurse
- Nurse educator
- Nurse anesthetists
- Office nurse
- Nurse practitioner
- Clinical nurse pecialist
- Private duty nurse
- Public health nurse
- Nurse midwife
- Nurse supervisor
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| Work Environment |
Registered nurses usually work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical offices, public health departments, private industry, home health agencies and the military. Nurses may work nights, weekends, holidays, and may also be on-call.
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| High School Prep |
General college preparation is recommended: three courses in math including algebra I, algebra II and geometry, or a higher level math course for which algebra II is a prerequisite; three science courses including one biological science, one physical science and one lab course; four English units and two social studies units, including one in U.S. History; and two years of a second language.
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| Academic Requirements |
To become qualified as a registered nurse, you must complete an accredited professional nursing program. This may be at the community college level (which awards an Associate Degree in Nursing [ADN] or an [AAS] Associate of Applied Science), or at the baccalaureate level, which awards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The ADN program usually takes about two years; the bachelor's degree generally requires four years of college (some university nursing programs accept transfer credit from community colleges). 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. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree. Accelerated master’s degree programs in nursing also are available and take about 3 years to complete. To work as a nurse, you must pass The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Within patient care, nurses can move into a nursing specialty such as clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist. These positions require about 2 years of graduate education leading to a master’s degree.
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Colorado schools that offer degrees
and/or training
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Professional associations that support this field
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