Registered Nurses

What the job really is

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1141
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
• Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
• Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
• Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
• Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
• Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
• Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
• Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
• Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
• Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
• Conduct specified laboratory tests.
• Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.

Tools and technology

Apache Spark, Epic Systems, Google Docs, Henry Schein Dentrix, Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Acute Care Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Critical Care Nurses
• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Nurse Midwives
• Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
• Nurse Anesthetists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Registered Nurses — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.