Registered Nurse salary

Registered nurses assess patients, deliver treatment and coordinate care across hospitals, clinics and community settings. It requires a nursing degree and state licensure. Day to day, that means assess and monitor patient condition, administer medication and treatments, coordinate with physicians and specialists and educate patients and families.

The usual route is: (1) complete an ADN (2 years) or BSN (4 years), (2) pass the NCLEX-RN, (3) obtain your state licence, (4) gain experience on a general unit. Employers typically look for ADN or BSN nursing degree, passing the NCLEX-RN examination and state RN licence.

Yes. Working as a registered nurse requires formal certification or licensing — specifically state RN licence and BLS certification; specialty certifications for some units. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.

Nursing demand is strong and broad-based, with shortages in most regions. Shift differentials and specialty premiums often matter more to earnings than base rate.

Two years for an associate degree (ADN) or four for a bachelor's (BSN), then the NCLEX-RN exam and state licensure. Many employers now prefer or require a BSN, and some fund ADN-to-BSN bridge programmes for staff.

Usually. Night, weekend and holiday differentials are standard in hospital nursing and can add meaningfully to annual pay. Advertised base rates often exclude them, so total earnings can exceed the posted figure.