Career Summary

Registered nurses (RNs) make up the largest portion of health care professionals, totaling more than 2.5 million jobs in the US. They can pursue a variety of career specialties, and more than half work in hospitals, where they establish and carry out specialized care plans for their patients. This includes providing needed treatments, running tests, informing the patient and the patient's family about various illnesses, and offering health advice.

In hospitals, registered nurses can work in areas such as:

• Intensive care units (general, pediatric and neonatal ICUs)
  
• Cardiac care units
• Operating rooms
  
• Emergency rooms
  
• Recovery rooms
• Outpatient care
  

In addition to meeting the patient's needs, nurses serve as important aides to hospital and medical office staff. They keep records up to date, investigate reports, maintain inventories of drugs, maintain linens and other supplies for patients, and supervise nursing assistants and non-nursing personnel.

Besides hospitals, RNs may be found in physicians' offices, nursing homes, home health care facilities, and a variety of other health care facilities. In any of these facilities, RNs may supervise or provide direction for nursing assistants or licensed practical nurses.

Nursing demand

The rapidly expanding health care industry is increasingly in need of registered nurses and other nursing personnel, and many facilities are experiencing a shortage of qualified nurses. This means many nurses work with several patients at once. However, this shortage translates to growing employment opportunities, particularly in physicians' offices and home health care facilities.

Despite the demands of the occupation, nursing involves helping and interacting with people every day, making it one of the most rewarding and sought-after professions.

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