It’s great to know that more people are now willing to pursue a successful and gratifying career as a registered nurse, where they will have personal experience helping people recover from illness and making a positive difference in the community.
The ideal way to start your journey to being an RN is to understand the job thoroughly and start thinking about your education. The most crucial step toward becoming a competent and licensed nurse is to obtain an undergraduate nursing degree.
The following are the essential steps to becoming an RN:
1. Understand the job—what can you expect as a registered nurse?
In various healthcare settings, registered nurses play a vital role in daily operations. You’ll be asked to take on many roles and handle a lot of different tasks that include:
- Developing and implementing therapeutic interventions
- Communicating effectively with patients, including their families
- Administering medications and prescribed treatments
- Performing or assisting with diagnostic procedures
- Properly utilizing medical equipment
- Working in the community, such as helping with public health programs and services
- Serving as a vital link between doctors and patients
Take note that no two job descriptions are the same. Your particular tasks will be determined by your degree, level of experience, and your workplace needs.
Registered nurses may choose different areas of specialization, such as obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, trauma, and more. As your experience grows, you may find that particular forms of treatment or patient groups pique your interest more.
For those wishing to specialize, the nursing field provides numerous distinct career options, and you can often be prepared to pursue these varying career paths by having a BSN degree and enough experience. In some situations, such as being a nurse practitioner, a Master of Science in Nursing is required (MSN).
Levels of RN designations
When you’re ready to start looking for your first job, look for “RN 1” or “RN I” roles. These are frequently given to new graduates who have little or no experience as a professional RN.
How do RN 1, RN 2 (II), RN 3 (III), and other nursing positions differ? The differences between each level can depend on the hospital or institution. Your RN level is usually determined by a combination of experience, activities you can perform, and duties and responsibilities.
