How to Become a Registered Nurse
Registered nurses (RNs) are an essential part of quality 医疗保健. 的 services they provide can have a positive impact on overall care delivery, which can also lead to positive patient outcomes. If you’re considering an advanced 护理 career, the RN role will be a vital stepping stone toward nurse leadership positions.
Because an RN’s work directly impacts patients, the road to becoming a registered nurse is a deliberate path designed to optimally prepare you for success in the role. Prior to pursuing the profession, it’s important to understand what the role entails, 以及所需的 护理教育 and licensure qualifications.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Registered nurses work with other 医疗保健 professionals to coordinate patient care. 的ir duties can include essential activities such as preparing patients for exams, recording patients’ 医疗 histories, 注射治疗, 使用医疗设备. Those in the role can also educate patients on post-visit care treatment strategies, or advise patients on proactive strategies that promote health and wellness.
RNs can work in a wide range of environments. 的se include traditional clinical settings such as a hospital or a doctor’s office. 的y can also work in other environments such as long-term care facilities, 急救中心, 私人住宅, or correctional institutions.
Steps to Become a Registered Nurse
的 best way to understand how to become a registered nurse is to explore the typical benchmarks of the process. Each step is designed to help you develop the knowledge and skills to thrive in the role.
1. 获得学位
Earning an undergraduate 护理 degree establishes the foundational knowledge and basic skills to succeed as a registered nurse. 的re are two pathways typically considered: the associate degree and the bachelor’s degree.
您的选择 护理学副学士 (ADN) program will involve a minimum of two years of college coursework. Some science and general education studies are usually included, but the focus is on the mastery of technical skills that are a part of registered 护理. Career options open to you with this degree may be more narrow than those offered to nurses with a bachelor’s degree.
Another common route to becoming an RN is the Bachelor of Science in 护理 (BSN) program, which involves four years of college or university coursework. Your studies in the first two years will provide a foundation in the biological sciences, 比如生理学, 营养, 和微生物学. Your studies in the final two years will include instruction in acute and chronic disease, in addition to a spectrum of 护理 courses. Graduates of this program are ready to pursue a wide range of 护理 careers, as the curriculum has more content in topics like leadership, 研究, 健康政策.
2. 开发技能
Skills requirements for becoming a registered nurse include gaining the analytical and technical capabilities to execute the role’s common duties. RNs should also develop soft skills to promote optimal patient care, such as communication and critical-thinking competencies.
3. 获得工作经验
Undergraduate 护理 degree programs typically contain supervised clinical opportunities as part of their curriculum. Gaining experience in a 医疗保健 setting can further your opportunities to transform your knowledge into actionable skills. It can also help you establish a foundation that makes it easier to transition into the field as a professional.
In addition to supervised clinical opportunities as part of a course curriculum, you can gain this experience through shadowing opportunities, 实习, 导师英国正版365官方网站, 和志愿服务. 有些护士可能会做 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) before becoming registered nurses.
4. Earn Licensure and Certifications
Before being able to apply for an RN position, you must obtain licensure in your intended state of practice. This process culminates with passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Some states may have additional licensing requirements, so it’s important to 研究 if anything additional may be needed to become a registered nurse in your chosen location.
除了许可之外, you can gain certification in specific areas of 护理, such as pediatrics or ambulatory care, as you gain experience on the job. 的se certifications can provide additional validation of your specialized knowledge, which could be attractive to prospective employers. Certifications are typically offered through professional associations.
5. Continue Your Professional Development
Typically, registered nurses start their careers as staff nurses. This provides an environment to refine your skill set and gain experience at the professional level. 最终, the experience can allow you to move into other RN positions that can provide you with more responsibilities, including more leadership or educator roles.
RNs typically need to pursue continuing 护理教育 credits to renew their state licensure on a periodic basis. 的y may also choose to pursue additional professional certifications as they advance in their careers.
Job Outlook for Registered Nurse
的 ongoing 护理 shortage continues to create ample opportunities for prospective RNs. 美国.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 193,100 registered nurse openings each year between 2022 and 2032. Factors leading to this increase include the growing demand for care services as well as retirements and career changes among existing nurses.
Those entering the field are doing so at a critical time. 作为美国.S. population ages, the number of patients in need of chronic care is expected to rise. Registered nurses will be crucial in developing care strategies that can help patients with chronic care needs live their best lives.
Build a Bright Future by Becoming a Registered Nurse
Registered nurses do more than provide care. 的y make a difference in people’s lives, and their work can form the backbone of a facility’s day-to-day care delivery strategies. This can ultimately make the profession a highly satisfying and meaningful choice.
的 护理学校课程 在富通，包括 护理学副学士 offering, can be your first step toward becoming a registered nurse. Our programs are designed to help you gain the fundamental knowledge and skills to properly pursue a 护理 role and provide the best care possible.
Learn how we can help you make an impact in an important field.
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