Career Profile: Hospital RN

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Job Description:

Hospital RN professionals are registered nurse practitioners that work alongside doctors in a medical or healthcare facility. They are mainly tasked to aid in ministering care to patients of all ages. They can be assigned to a specific medical area or hospital department depending on their career specialty. Some of the healthcare areas where hospital RN professionals are usually assigned are:

• Emergency room
• Delivery/Operating room
• ICU/NICU
• Pediatrics and birthing units

Hospital RN professionals assume diverse roles and functions. They play an integral part in the medical industry since they are the patients' primary caregivers. Hospital RN professionals take on a number of duties and responsibilities, which include the following:

• devise day-to-day nursing care plan for patients
• ensure that the doctor's orders are carried out properly
• do frequent patient evaluation, such as taking vital signs
• perform various medical procedures as per doctor's request (i.e. IV placement, phlebotomy)
• dispense and administer medications
• supervise and delegate routine tasks to CNA's, and LPN's
• coordinate patient care plans with doctors and other healthcare professionals
• provide direct bedside care to patients
• record all medications given and procedures done on the patients' chart

Work Environment:

Hospital RN professionals work in a pleasant, well-lit, clean, and comfortable healthcare facility. They spend most of their time tending to the patients' needs and carrying out doctor's orders. They usually work in an 8-hour shift, 5 days a week. Depending on their work arrangement, they may also be required to work at extended hours, including nights and weekends. Since they are constantly exposed to infectious diseases, hospital RN professionals must observe and strictly follow the hospital's safety guidelines.

Educational and Training Requirements:

Aspiring hospital RN professionals can either choose to take a 2-year Associate or 4-year Bachelor's degree nursing course program. Plenty of accredited colleges, universities, and technical schools are now offering various nursing programs. Apart from earning a graduate degree, hospital RN aspirants must also obtain a license before they can legally practice the profession. Those who wish to advance to higher nursing positions are advised to pursue a Master's degree and gain relevant experiences.

Salary Range:

Income rates of Hospital RN professionals are generally influenced by geographical location, area of specialization, and years of experience. Most hospital RN professionals are receiving annual earnings of around $38,556 - $70,097. Meanwhile, those who have acquired additional trainings, and advanced certifications are enjoying a much higher income of more than $72,188 annually.

Job Outlook:

Employment outlook for hospital RN professionals are excellent since more job opportunities are expected to become available in the nursing field. In addition to that, work demand is expected to steadily increase until 2014 due to the growing number of the aging population and the continuous expansion in the healthcare industry. This growth will prompt more lucrative career opportunities for certified hospital RN professionals!

Start a rewarding career as a hospital RN by browsing through our comprehensive list of accredited Hospital RN schools!

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*Program Availability Varies By Location and Often Changes. To get the most up-to-date information, use the links we provide to request additional information from a local campus representative.