Registered Nurse – Associates Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

If you walk into any hospital or urgent care clinic in this country, the chances are that you will be interviewed, examined and/or treated by a registered nurse. Without enough doctors to go around to every patient, the registered nurse is a vital link in the health care chain. Although they do not attend the same amount of training as a doctor, and are less likely to specialize in one area, the registered nurse is responsible for many aspects of an ill or injured patient’s care. Besides actual treatment, the registered nurse is expected to educate patients about disease and injury prevention, as well as arranging their discharge date from the hospital. In most facilities, the registered nurses are required to oversee the operations of the nursing staff, which might include certified nurses and nurses’ aides.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$50,200
Salary Range
$41,300 - $58,400

Work Environment

Registered nurses are needed anywhere that people can come to seek treatment for their bodily illnesses or injuries. This means that registered nurses are regularly employed at hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities, schools and universities. It is necessary for registered nurses at the associate’s level to have good interpersonal communications skills as they will act as the intermediary between nurses and doctors and doctors and patients.

High School Preparation

Those individuals that think they would enjoy the responsibilities of a registered nurse at the associate’s level are encouraged to spend their high school career increasing their knowledge of biology, psychology, and emergency medicine. Supporting courses for this line of work include chemistry, sociology, first aid, foods and nutrition, physical education, computer skills, and foreign languages.

Requirements

Following high school graduation, students interested in pursuing a career as a registered nurse at the associate’s level is required to enroll in an accredited training program for LPN’s that would like to advance to the level of a registered nurse. These programs are usually available at medical vocational schools or community colleges and can be completed in two years. Following completion of all training and educational requirements, it is necessary for students to take and pass the national exam to become a licensed registered nurse.

Career Outlook

Although it might surprise you, the occupation of registered nurse is that largest health care occupation in the entire country. This means that hospitals and other medical facilities are struggling to find enough qualified registered nurses to fill the positions that they have open for them. The current job market for qualified nurses is excellent and the number of available jobs is expected to increase by at least twenty percent over the next ten years.

Professional Organizations

American Nurses Association
600 Maryland Avenue, SW,
Suite 100 W.
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 651-7000
 www.nursingworld.org