What Is a Registered Nurse?

Any discussion about the field of nursing has to eventually focus upon what is a registered nurse? Look at any floor of a hospital throughout the country and you will find a plethora of certified nursing assistants (CNAs). You’ll also find Licensed Practical Nurses, although their numbers are decreasing in today’s healthcare market. What you will find, is an increasing number of Registered Nurses. With these three types of medical professionals milling about a busy hospital floor, the typical patient has a tendency to think of them all is the same type of care provider. However, at the top of the professional ladder for nursing is found the registered nurse. Individuals seeking a career in nursing should focus on becoming a registered nurse since this is always the key to opening additional and more advanced doors for future employment opportunities.

Know the Answer

Before any individual decides to pursue a career in the nursing field, it is important to have an answer to the question what is a registered nurse? Surprisingly, a registered nurse is just like a licensed practical nurse and is a health professional graduating from a nursing program, school of nursing or college for nursing. They have some kind of documentation that indicates the graduated from the program, what they have is more important as a state license in order to practice their career. In fact, passing a specific state exam will also dictate the scope of a person’s nursing practice. Individuals in obtaining a registered nurses license have you typically graduated from a school that granted them a diploma or from a school of nursing or college and is granted them a degree.

What Is The Role Of A Registered Nurse?
A registered nurse is a healthcare professional providing services to families, individuals as well as communities with the goal in mind to achieve wellness while preventing disease. Registered nurses work in a variety of different settings that include public health departments, schools, businesses as well as the typical medical institutions such as the doctor’s office, skilled nursing facility or nursing home, hospitals and may even be found in academic institutions conducting medical research. Registered nurses are also found in many recreational situations such as youth camps and cruises. They are called upon to help promote wellness and healthy living by guiding individuals to achieve a patient’s health goals through implementing a nursing care plan.

What Is The Difference Between An LPN In An RN?
The definition of the registered nurse also sounds like it apply to a licensed practical nurse, also called a licensed vocational nurse. The difference boils down to the fact that an RN has greater amounts of education than an LPN possesses. Since an RN does have advanced education, the door opens for additional responsibilities acquired through obtaining advanced skills. An RN can advance in education obtaining additional certifications and degrees that can help specialize a career making it both more personally as well as financially rewarding. A licensed practical nurse does not have an option to specialize in or advancing employment opportunities and salary through specialization. Therefore, anyone obtaining the employment level of an LPN should vigorously consider advanced in education at least to the level of becoming an RN.

State Definition
The legal definition for a Registered nurse is dictated by each state and will vary from one to another. It is the State Board of nursing that determines the scope of the nurse’s practice. Also, many healthcare organizations in a policies and procedures that also dictate the scope of what a nurse is capable for performing. However, in almost every situation a registered nurse has the opportunity to advance education to become some type of well-meaning specialist in today’s healthcare industry such as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or some type of clinical nurse specialist. Becoming an registered nurse can also lead an individual to a career in healthcare management. Many registered nurses further a career by obtaining a master’s degree in nursing that would qualify them for taking upon an administrative duties.

RNs Have Many Employment Options

Once an individual has reached a level of RN, or many doors waiting to be unlocked that will further a person’s career helping them obtain the personal and financial satisfaction for which they have always dreamed. He RN license is actually the key that will unlock many different career possibilities that are not open to either a CNA or an LPN. Becoming a registered nurse allows an individual to seek employment in a variety of different settings and become involved in a variety of different types of patient care. And RN’s very first job could be in a hospital, but with advanced education the same healthcare individual might find specialization in an area of personal interest or patient need that will be a fulfilling and rewarding choice.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *