Nurse Training and Education A nurse, also referred to as a registered nurse or RN, must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a special licensing examination before receiving a license. If the nurse wishes to work in another state, he or she may be required to take an examination for that state unless the state is one of eighteen that are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement. Regardless of the state in which he or she works, the nurse will be periodically required to renew the license. This may involve continuing education.

A nurse may choose to pursue a bachelor degree, an associate degree, or a diploma. A bachelor’s degree takes about four years to earn, while an associate degree or a diploma each require two to three years. Often, a nurse that has earned an associate degree or a diploma will choose to go back to school later in order to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Nurse Job Description The specific duties of a nurse depend upon the work setting as well as his or her area of specialty. Regardless of setting, however, the nurse is responsible for treating patients and educating them about their medical conditions. The nurse is also called upon to provide emotional support to the family of the patient and to maintain records of the patient’s history and symptoms. The nurse may also be responsible for performing diagnostic tests and analyzing the results of these tests.

In order to help treat the patient’s condition, the nurse is also expected to administer medication and certain treatments. He or she is also responsible for following up on the treatment and for teaching the patient and his or her family how to manage the injury or illness.

Nurse Salary and Job Outlook According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for those interested in becoming a nurse are expected to grow faster than the average occupation. In fact, nursing is projected to offer the second greatest number of new jobs through to 2014.

The Bureau reports that the median annual earning for a nurse in 2004 was $52,330. Those working in employment services earned the most, with a median annual salary of $63,170, while a nurse working in nursing care facilities earned the least with a median annual salary of $48,220.

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