Healthcare Practitioners
Registered Nurses
Also called: Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse, Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse), Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse)
US median pay
$97,550
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.6%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
180,800
3,465,400 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
What they do day to day
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
- Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.1/5
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Coordination4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Instructing3.2/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Systems Evaluation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Psychology4.6/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.4/5
- Medicine and Dentistry4.4/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Administrative3.5/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree56%
- Post-secondary certificate22%
- Associate's degree19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.