Nurse (Registered)

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Work Tasks

• Care for the sick and help people stay well
• Examine patients and give treatments
• Help physicians in surgery and intensive care units
• May care for people in nursing homes, work in schools, or care for those who need constant attention
• Work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, doctors' offices, schools, the government, home healthcare and temporary help agencies
• Work with patients, patient records, test results, doctors' orders, stethoscopes, thermometers, medication, and lab specimens and equipment

Salary, Size & Growth

• $65,500 average per year ($31.50 per hour)
• A very large occupation (2,655,000 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A diploma from an accredited nursing program
• Employers Prefer: A 4-year nursing degree or higher
• Skills/Courses: Community colleges offer programs that take 2 or 3 years. Colleges and universities offer programs that take 4 or 5 years. Hospitals offer 2 or 3 year programs.
• Licensing/Certification: A registered nursing license is required.