A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed healthcare professional who provides patient care, coordinates treatment, educates patients and families, and works with other medical professionals in hospitals, clinics, schools, research settings, and many other environments.
Registered nurses play a major role in helping patients recover, manage chronic conditions, prevent complications, and understand their health. They are also essential to the daily function of healthcare systems because they monitor patients closely, communicate with the care team, and help carry out treatment plans.
If you’re exploring nursing as a career, this guide explains what registered nurses do, where they work, what education they need, how their schedules vary, and how they can advance into higher-paying and more specialized roles.
What Is a Registered Nurse?
Quick answer: A registered nurse is a licensed nurse who assesses patients, coordinates care, administers treatments and medications, educates patients and families, and works with physicians and other healthcare professionals to support recovery and long-term health.
| Topic | Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a registered nurse? | A licensed nurse who provides and coordinates patient care in many healthcare settings. |
| Typical education | ADN or BSN, followed by passing the NCLEX-RN and meeting state licensure requirements. |
| Median pay | According to the BLS, registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $93,600 in May 2024. |
| Common workplaces | Hospitals, clinics, schools, home health, public health, research, and more. |
| Typical schedule | Often 3 12-hour shifts in hospitals, but schedules vary widely by setting. |
What Do Registered Nurses Do?
Registered nurses have many responsibilities in clinical and non-clinical settings. In bedside roles, they assess patients, monitor symptoms, administer medications and treatments, document changes in condition, and communicate with physicians and other team members. In non-bedside roles, they may work in case management, education, informatics, legal consulting, research, and leadership.
RNs regularly work with CNAs, physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists, technicians, LPNs, and other professionals to ensure patients receive safe and effective care.
Common Registered Nurse Responsibilities
- Assessing a patient’s condition and observing symptoms
- Administering medications and treatments
- Updating medical records and documentation
- Educating patients and families about conditions and care plans
- Collaborating with nurses, physicians, and other clinicians
- Monitoring recovery and rehabilitation progress
- Supervising LPNs, CNAs, and nursing assistants when appropriate
- Assisting in high-acuity settings such as the ICU, ED, trauma, and critical care
- Helping patients with daily care needs when necessary
- Supporting patient safety, comfort, and communication throughout treatment
Depending on the role and state scope of practice rules, RNs may perform or assist with many procedures, but they do not have the same scope of practice as advanced practice registered nurses. If you’re curious about related questions, you may also want to read can nurses write prescriptions and can nurses remove stitches.
Where Do Registered Nurses Work?
Registered nurses work in many healthcare and non-healthcare environments. Although hospitals remain the most common workplace for RNs, many nurses build careers in outpatient clinics, schools, home health, hospice, public health, research, legal consulting, and administrative roles.
If you want a deeper breakdown, read where registered nurses work.
Common Places Registered Nurses Work
- Hospitals
- Emergency rooms
- Intensive care units
- Walk-in clinics
- Doctor’s offices
- Home health agencies
- Hospices
- Nursing homes
- Research centers
- Community health organizations
- Psychiatric care facilities
- Colleges and universities
- School districts
- Military and government settings
Many RNs also move into non-bedside jobs for nurses after gaining experience, especially if they want a different schedule, less physical strain, or a more specialized non-clinical path.
How Much Do Registered Nurses Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned a median annual salary of $93,600 in May 2024. Actual pay varies by location, experience, specialty, shift differentials, overtime, and work setting.
Nurses in certain specialties and states can earn much more, especially when they move into leadership, travel nursing, advanced practice, or high-demand hospital roles. If you want to explore pay in more detail, see how nurses can make six figures and careers in nursing.
What Education Do Registered Nurses Need?
Registered nurses typically begin with either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After completing an approved nursing program, they must pass the NCLEX-RN and meet their state’s licensure requirements.
Many nurses start with an ADN and later complete a BSN, while others enter the field through a four-year BSN program from the beginning. The BSN is often preferred for certain hospital systems, leadership paths, and long-term advancement opportunities. The AACN notes that the BSN provides the foundation for entry-level professional nursing practice and future graduate study.
Aspiring nursing students also need to complete school-specific admission requirements. You can learn more in these guides:
Types of Nursing Degrees
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Each step up in education can open additional career paths. Higher degrees often lead to more autonomy, more specialized roles, leadership opportunities, education positions, and in some cases significantly higher pay.
If you’re thinking about long-term growth, you may also want to read how to maximize your nursing career.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
Some registered nurses return to school after earning their BSN to pursue graduate education and become advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs. These nurses work at a higher level within the profession and may take on broader clinical responsibilities depending on state law.
APRNs work in one of four major roles:
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
According to the BLS, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners had a median annual wage of $132,050 in May 2024, and these roles are projected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.
APRNs may work as primary care providers, specialty clinicians, educators, and clinical experts. In some states, nurse practitioners can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and operate independently under full practice authority. If you’re interested in that route, see can nurse practitioners diagnose patients.
Do Some Nurses Start as CNAs or LPNs?
Yes. Some people begin their healthcare journey as CNAs or LPNs before becoming registered nurses. This can be a practical way to gain experience, earn income, and decide whether nursing is the right long-term career path.
Certified nursing assistant programs are often one of the fastest ways to enter healthcare, while LPN programs provide a higher level of responsibility and typically take longer to complete. Many CNAs and LPNs later continue their education to become RNs.
Registered Nurse Career Opportunities
One of the biggest advantages of becoming a registered nurse is career flexibility. RNs can work in direct patient care, leadership, education, research, entrepreneurship, legal consulting, informatics, and many other areas.
There are more than 100 nursing career paths and specialties. If you want to explore them, visit Careers in Nursing.
Examples of Registered Nurse Career Paths
- Hospital nurse
- Home healthcare nurse
- Head nurse
- Office nurse
- Occupational health nurse
- Public health nurse
- Emergency room nurse
- Geriatric nurse
- Ambulatory care nurse
Some of these roles focus on bedside care, while others focus more on leadership, education, coordination, prevention, or community health.
What Schedule Do Registered Nurses Work?
A registered nurse’s schedule depends heavily on the setting and specialty. Many hospital RNs work three 12-hour shifts per week, but some work five 8-hour shifts, four 10-hour shifts, rotating schedules, weekends, holidays, or overtime depending on employer needs.
Nurses outside the hospital often have more predictable weekday schedules. For example, school nurses, office nurses, some public health nurses, and some research nurses may work more traditional daytime hours.
If you want a deeper breakdown, read how many hours registered nurses work and night shift nurse.
Schedule expectations also connect to other common career questions, such as do nurses get drug tested and can nurses have tattoos, since workplace policies often vary by employer, specialty, and setting.
Why Become a Registered Nurse?
Many people choose registered nursing because it offers a rare combination of job stability, meaningful work, strong income potential, and long-term career flexibility.
- Strong national demand for nurses
- Multiple work settings and specialties
- Clear advancement pathways
- Opportunities to help people directly
- Potential to earn more with experience, specialization, and advanced education
Nursing can be physically and emotionally demanding, but for many people it is also one of the most rewarding healthcare careers. Nurses can build careers that fit different personalities and goals, whether they prefer fast-paced hospital work, predictable clinic schedules, public health, research, leadership, or graduate-level advanced practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an RN and an LPN?
Registered nurses generally have a broader scope of practice, more career options, and higher earning potential than LPNs. RNs also complete different licensing requirements and often take on more complex patient care responsibilities.
How long does it take to become a registered nurse?
It depends on the path. An ADN route may take about two years after admission to the nursing program, while a BSN typically takes about four years. Some students also spend additional time completing prerequisites before entering nursing school.
Can registered nurses become nurse practitioners?
Yes. Many registered nurses continue their education and become nurse practitioners after earning graduate-level nursing degrees and meeting licensure and certification requirements.
Do most registered nurses work in hospitals?
Hospitals remain the largest employer of RNs, but many nurses also work in outpatient care, home health, long-term care, education, community health, and other settings.