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During the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance and dedication of essential workers became clear. Registered nurses (RNs) are among the most crucial frontline workers in healthcare. Along with receiving relatively high pay and strong job security, many nurses find their careers meaningful. These professionals care for patients and help save lives in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Requirements for RN licensure vary by state but always include earning a degree and passing a national examination. Read on to learn more about how to become an RN.
What Is a Registered Nurse?
Registered nurses typically provide bedside care and patient education alongside a team of healthcare professionals. RNs can become licensed after earning an associate in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). All RNs must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Role and Responsibilities
Typical daily tasks for nurses include observing and caring for patients at the bedside, keeping detailed records of patient symptoms and information, administering medicine or treatments, and collecting blood and urine samples for lab analysis.
RNs work in physician offices, hospitals, schools and other medical facilities. RNs provide care and education to patients across the lifespan, including the elderly, children and people experiencing medical emergencies or acute trauma.
Work Environment
Registered nurses work in nearly every healthcare setting, including hospitals, community clinics, urgent cares and nursing homes. Nurses’ schedules depend on their work environment. Emergency room and intensive care unit (ICU) nurses generally work eight-hour shifts, sometimes overnight, while nurses in other healthcare facilities can work typical business hours.
Although their work environments and schedules can be stressful and fast-paced, nurses benefit from above-average salaries and economic demand.
RN Specialties
As a nurse, you can focus your career on a specific type of patient care. Specialties allow nurses to work with particular populations, departments or settings. The right specialization for you depends on your interests, preferred work environment, schedule and desired patient population.
RNs can specialize in critical care, treating patients in ICUs, or neonatal care, which involves caring for premature and sick newborns. Other RN specialties include public health, pediatrics, gerontology and perioperative care.
How to Become an RN
Get an Education
While licensure requirements vary by state, completing a nursing education is the first step to becoming a registered nurse.
In most states, the minimum education requirement for an RN license is a diploma from an accredited RN program; however, many aspiring nurses earn an ADN or a BSN.
A BSN degree is not required to become an RN, but many healthcare employers now prefer to hire nurses with BSNs, as this degree provides broader knowledge and stronger competency in foundational nursing skills.
Nursing programs should be accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Accreditation Commission for Nursing Education or a state-specific accrediting body, if applicable.
Pass the NCLEX
While examination requirements vary by state, RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN to earn licensure. Beginning in April 2023, prospective nurses must pass the Next Generation NCLEX. This test uses new question types drawn from case studies to better measure clinical judgment.
Test-takers can take up to five hours to finish the NCLEX. In 2022, the NCLEX pass rate for first-time test takers was 79.9%. We recommend that you make an NCLEX study plan and review NCLEX prep resources well ahead of your test date.
Obtain State Licensure
After passing the NCLEX, nurses apply for RN licensure in the state where they want to practice. Requirements for RN licensure vary by state; check your state’s nursing regulatory board for up-to-date requirements.
In most cases, RN licensure requirements include at least an accredited RN diploma and a passing NCLEX score.
Do You Need a BSN to Become an RN?
A BSN is not technically required to earn licensure and become a nurse. However, many employers prefer to hire nurses with BSN degrees. Research shows that BSN-prepared nurses lead to better patient outcomes, including lower patient mortality rates, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). AACN reports that over 77% of employers prefer or require nurses to hold at least a BSN.
BSN programs prepare nurses with more extensive knowledge than associate degrees and RN diplomas. This higher education can set you up for further career and educational advancement down the line should you choose to pursue a master’s in nursing.
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $77,600 in May 2021. The top 10% of nurses made more than $120,250 annually, while the bottom 10% made less than $59,450. Higher pay, however, is often correlated with higher living costs.
The BLS projects employment for nurses to grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031, which is comparable to the national growth average.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How to Become a Registered Nurse
Becoming an RN is challenging for many students since licensure requires multiple years of study and a mastery of technical and scientific concepts. However, the rewards for pursuing a nursing career are significant as well. In addition to high salaries, nurses also benefit from job stability and career mobility.
How many years does it take to be a nurse?
The time it takes to become a nurse depends on your education route and state licensing requirements. Nursing students can complete certain accelerated RN diploma programs in 16 months. Associate programs usually take around two years of full-time study to complete, while BSN degree programs take around four years. You can apply for nurse licensure soon after completing your education.
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