Lifespan Youth Employment

Registered Nurse

Registered nurses (RNs), have a wide variety of responsibilities. Mainly, RNs work hand in hand with physicians and other health care professionals in the traditional hospital setting. Many RNs work in administrative roles and even become the chief nursing officer (CNO) of a hospital or health care organization. RNs earn approximately $40,000 a year.

Specialties
Job responsibilities
Educational requirements
Educational programs
Licensure requirements
Professional organizations

Nursing specialties

• Clinical Nurse Specialists
  
• Nurse Midwife
  
• Nurse Anesthetist
  
• Nurse Practitioner

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Job responsibilities:

• Help to evaluate the patient's condition.
  
  
• Devise effective treatment plans and monitor and record the patient's reactions and progress.
  
  
• Coordinate the care given by other members of the health care team.
  
  
• Supervise support staff, such as licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants.
  
  
• Possess the technical knowledge to use sophisticated equipment, while keeping abreast of rapidly evolving advances in health care.

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Educational requirements:

• Associate's degree program
• Diploma program from a three-year, hospital-based program
• Bachelor's degree program from an accredited school

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Educational programs:

• Community College of Rhode Island
  
• St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing
  
• Rhode Island College
• University of Rhode Island
  
• Salve Regina University
  
• Northeastern University

Professional organizations:

• American Nurses Association
  http://www.ana.org/
  
  

• National Student Nurses Association
  http://www.nsna.org/
  
  
• U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook
  http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm
  
  
• Nursing Spectrum
  http://www.nursingspectrum.com/
  
  
• Discover Nursing
  http://www.discovernursing.com/

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