Becoming a registered nurse, or RN, requires several years of education and on the job experience. Nursing is a well respected profession, and RNs are highly regarded and in high demand in the job market, making for a personally and financially rewarding profession.
History
Professional nursing began with the book Notes on Nursing, by Florence Nightingale, who cared for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. She set up the first nursing training school in London in 1860.
Function
Registered nurses, often simply referred to as "nurses," work alongside medical doctors to provide care to patients from prenatal to hospice settings.
Types
Registered nurses may have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or just a Registered Nurse license and certification. All 50 states license registered nurses. Nurses may specialize in pediatrics, obstetrics, public health, gerontology, or any other medical specialty.
Time Frame
Nursing education takes several years depending on the method selected. Hospital diploma programs consist of three years of coursework. College and university programs range from two-year degrees to four-year BSN programs and longer for more advanced graduate work.
Considerations
Becoming an RN requires several years of academic training. After completion of the diploma or degree, a licensure examination must be passed, and on-the-job training may take several weeks to several years depending on the specialty of practice.
Benefits
The job market for RNs has been in a growth phase and will continue as the baby boomer generation ages and needs increasing medical care. High salaries, sign-on bonuses and tuition reimbursement are common recruitment strategies for RNs. Due to the need of 24-hour care, RNs may be able to choose flexible work schedules.
Potential
Nurses may further their education to become an advanced practice nurse or nurse practitioner, which allows for mostly independent practice in partnership with a medical doctor. Advanced degree registered nurses may also teach at schools of nursing or conduct clinical medical trials.
Tags: several years, requires several, requires several years, several years depending, years depending