The American healthcare industry is expanding at a rapid pace, creating an immediate need for medical professionals. Registered nurses are currently in high demand for many reasons, including the development of new technology, an aging population, and current nurses retiring. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 2.7 million registered nurses are employed in the United States, and approximately 60 percent work in hospitals. RNs may also find themselves in clinics, physicians’ offices, home health care settings, critical and long-term care facilities, governmental organizations, the military, schools, and rehabilitation agencies. The demand for registered nurses is expected to continue growing swiftly. The process of becoming a registered RN will vary a little based on the type of nurse you want to become, but most nurses go through the same basic steps in the end.

Step 1 – Determine What Kind of Nurse You Want to Be

There are many different levels of nursing that you may get into, and each one of them has different education requirements you will need to know. Some of the most basic nursing careers include:

• Registered Nurse
• Nurse Practitioner
• Licensed Vocational Nurse
• Certified Medical Assistant

There are specialties in each of those nursing branches, and there are other advanced practice nursing jobs to keep in mind.

Step 2 – Get an Education

Most nursing jobs will require some sort of college degree. Entry-level positions are sometimes available through on-the-job training, but anything beyond that will require an associate’s degree or higher. The most common nursing degrees out there are:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Certificate of Nursing
• Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Your nursing degree will consist of clinical sessions and online/on-campus classes that show you how to work as a nurse. You will learn about medical terminology, patient care, medical equipment, and much more.

Step 3 – Get Certified

Once you complete your career training program, you will need to take an exam to get certified in your profession. If you are trained to be a nursing assistant, you would soon become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). You could find a job without getting certified, but many states and employers require certification for unsupervised work. This is especially true for advanced practice nurses, like nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists.

Step 4 – Get a Job

With all of your credentials in place, you can begin looking for a job. If you cannot find one in your specialty when you go to look for one, you might need to work in general healthcare for the time being. The more experience you have, the better your chances will be of getting hired. Registered nurses are able to work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, health care clinics, nursing homes, and much more. Some RNs even operate their own practices. You will simply have to explore your options when the time comes.

Your basic nursing degree may not be enough to sustain your career as a nurse. Continue going to school and specialized classes to stay up to date on advances in the medical field, and you can enjoy the rewards of this career for years to come.