You’ve seen them on T.V. and encountered these clinical angels in real-life. Registered nurses (RNs) are the backbone of the healthcare profession. They perform their life-saving duties in clinical settings across the U.S. As a career profession, having an R.N. designation means you will have your pick of jobs in the coming years. The latest data shows the U.S. will need 13 million nurses to join the profession in the next decade to keep up with demand.
In this blog, we’re shining a career spotlight on R.N.s. We’ll discuss the basics of the job, what education path most people take, and the personal qualities that make a good R.N. We’ll also touch on the different specialties you can go into once you become an R.N. If you’re ready to explore a career as an R.N., browse our open roles today!
Understanding the R.N. Role
R.N.s provide necessary care and caring to patients within the medical field. These professionals do it all: From communicating care instructions to patients to providing it. Nurses can:
- Administer treatments to patients.
- Assist doctors in treating patients.
- Coordinate specialty care teams.
- Perform diagnostic testing.
- Operate medical equipment.
- Comfort patients and families
- Follow up on patient care.
- And more!
An R.N. can work in a variety of settings. There are R.N.s in schools and prisons as well as nursing homes and hospitals. You’ll see a nurse in an E.R. and nurses even participate in surgical procedures. Some of the settings you’ll encounter as an R.N. include:
- Private and public hospitals where you will typically work as part of a specialized unit, such as intensive care (ICU) or the emergency department (E.R.).
- Ambulatory health clinics are often specialized around care delivery. For example, there are freestanding surgical hospitals devoted to orthopedics and clinics that provide dialysis treatment—to name just two of the many options out there.
- Residential care and nursing facilities typically provide long-term care to the elderly and infirm. There are also facilities that offer rehabilitative treatment for patients trying to recover from surgery or a traumatic accident.
- Private medical practices are often the first point of care for patients. Many build long-term relationships with their patients, and you’ll find nurses working hard to build your trust and treat your illnesses.
While the settings for nursing vary, so too do the specialty areas you can pursue as an R.N. For example, you could pursue an Associates Degree (ADN) in nursing or a Bachelor’s (BSN), however many nurses stay in school or go back to receive a Master’s Degree (MSN). The MSN prepares you to take on supervisory and administrative positions within a healthcare setting.
Then there are the medical specialty areas to pursue. You could become a gerontology nurse and work with the elderly. On the opposite side of the spectrum, you could become a neonatal or a pediatric nurse. There are jobs and rewarding work for all of these professions—and more.
If you have a desire to heal and help people and are ready to change your career path, perhaps nursing is the right profession to consider. A.G. Globe is standing by to help you find your dream R.N. job. If you’re thinking about a career move, check out our job listings and get in touch with our team.
