Why Pursue A Registered Nurse Career?

Registered nurses provide care for patients by working to promote health, prevent disease, and help their patients cope with illness. They also instruct patients and their families about illnesses and the treatments for these illnesses, as well as about any procedures that may be undertaken in treatment. When providing direct patient care, RNs observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress, assist doctors during surgeries, treatments, and examinations, administer medications, and assist in rehabilitation. They may also develop and manage nursing care plans.

Most nurses work in hospitals, offices, and clinics, but some are employed by home health services, schools, community centers, outpatient care centers, government agencies, and private companies. Because of the nature of the job, most work evenings, weekends, and holidays, and may also be placed on call, to come in in case of emergency or need. Nurses who work in offices or public health centers work a regular forty hour week. Salaries vary according to experience, area, and the capacity in which they are employed. The average salary of nurses in the major areas of employment are listed below:

Employment services: $55,980
General medical and surgical hospitals: $49,190
Home health care services: $45,890
Physicians’ offices: $44,870
Nursing homes: $43,850

In addition to their salaries, most employers offer benefits and retirement packages and bonuses. The employment outlook for registered nurses is extremely good, especially as the nation is undergoing a severe nursing shortage in several areas. More new jobs are expected to be created for RNs than any other profession as well. The employment in hospitals is likely to remain steady, but the growth in specific areas, such as home health care and nursing homes, as well as specialized care areas is expected to grow exponentially.

In all states, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination in order to become a registered nurse. Nurses may be licensed in more than one state either by examination, endorsement of a license issued by another state, or through a multi-state licensing agreement. All licenses must be periodically renewed.

There are three types of education one can take to become a registered nurse: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, and a diploma. Bachelor’s degree programs usually take four years to complete, while associate’s programs take two to three years. Diploma programs, which are administered in hospitals, take about three years, but these programs are being phased out.

Featured Registered Nurse Schools:

Online
University of Phoenix Online - RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, MS in Nursing, Master of Health Administration
Kaplan University - BS in Nursing, Continuing Education in Legal Nurse Consulting, Forensic Nursing, Life Care Planning, and Case Management
Utica College - Online RN to Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
Walden University - Master of Science in Nursing

Alabama

Arizona
Tucson College - Tucson - Certified Nursing Assistant
University of Phoenix - Phoenix - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix - Ft. Huachuca / Southern Arizona - BS in Nursing (RN Required), Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Informatics Certificate, School Nurse Certificate
University of Phoenix - Tucson / Southern Arizona - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

California
Everest College - Alhambra , Anaheim - Vocational Nursing
Career Networks Institute - Costa Mesa - Vocational Nursing
Kaplan College - North Hollywood , Vista / North County , San Diego - Certificate: Vocational Nursing, Certificate: Nurse Assistant Training Program
Santa Barbara Business College - Bakersfield , Santa Barbara , Santa Maria , Ventura - Vocational Nursing
University of Phoenix - Fresno / Central Valley - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Sacramento - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix - San Diego - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
University of Phoenix - San Francisco - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix - Southern California - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
West Coast University - Los Angeles - Associate: Nursing

Colorado
University of Phoenix - Aurora - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Colorado Springs * - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Connecticut
Lincoln Technical Institute - Hamden , New Britain , Shelton - Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)

Florida
Angley College - DeLand - Nursing Assistant
Central Florida College - Winter Park - Certificate - Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide
Gulf Coast College - Tampa - Practical Nursing
Keiser University - Kendall , Lakeland , Melbourne , Sarasota , Tallahassee , West Palm Beach - Nursing
MedVance Institute - Miami , West Palm Beach , Stuart - Practical Nursing
University of Phoenix - Fort Lauderdale - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Nursing/Health Care Education
University of Phoenix - Jacksonville - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Nursing/Health Care Education, MS in Nursing / Master of Business Administration / Health Care Management
University of Phoenix - Orlando - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Nursing/Health Care Education, MS in Nursing / Master of Business Administration / Health Care Management
University of Phoenix - Tampa - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Nursing/Health Care Education
Virginia College - Pensacola - Practical Nursing (Diploma)

Georgia
University of Phoenix - Atlanta - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Columbus * - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Hawaii
University of Phoenix - Wailuku - Licensed Practical Nursing, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Indiana
Everest College - Merrillville - Practical Nursing
University of Phoenix - Indianapolis - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Iowa
Hamilton College - Cedar Falls , Cedar Rapids , Des Moines , Mason City - Practical Nursing
Kaplan University - Davenport - Nursing

Louisiana
Loyola University - New Orleans - MS in Nursing with a specialization in Healthcare Systems Management
University of Phoenix - Baton Rouge - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Michigan
Everest Institute - Grand Rapids - Practical Nurse
University of Phoenix - Detroit - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Portage / West Michigan - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Missouri
Sanford-Brown College - St. Peters - Associate in Nursing

Nebraska
Hamilton College - Lincoln , Omaha - Practical Nursing
Midland Lutheran College - Fremont - Nursing

New Jersey
CDM Institute - Wayne - Nurses Aid

New Mexico
University of Phoenix - Albuquerque - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

North Carolina
ECPI College of Technology - Charlotte , Raleigh - Practical Nursing

Ohio
University of Phoenix - Cleveland - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)

Oklahoma
University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City - BS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix - Tulsa - BS in Nursing (RN Required)

Oregon

South Carolina
ECPI College of Technology - Greenville - Practical Nursing

Tennessee
University of Phoenix - Nashville - BS in Nursing (RN Required)

Texas
Texas Careers - San Antonio - Nurse's Aide, Vocational Nursing

Utah
Provo College - Provo - Nursing
University of Phoenix - Salt Lake City - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
Utah Career College - West Jordan - Nursing

Virginia
ECPI - Manassas - Practical Nursing
Medical Careers Institute - Virginia Beach , Richmond , Newport News - Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing
TESST College of Technology - Alexandria - Licensed Practical Nurse

Wisconsin
Vancouver Careers College - Burnaby , Chilliwack , Coquitlam , Kelowna , Surrey , Vancouver - Practical Nursing