What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?

When it comes to healthcare professions, it can feel confusing to make sense of the long list of acronyms — RN, LPN, APRN, and NP. While careers in healthcare are always in high demand, they all require different training and provide different skill sets. So if you’re interested in any of them, it’s advisable to research each of them individually to determine which one would be the best career path for you.

What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?

A registered nurse (RN) is a nursing professional who has an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. In addition, this type of healthcare professional has passed the NCLEX-RN examination administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Registered nurses also have to meet licensing requirements as required by their state’s board of nursing.

Once you have become a registered nurse, you’ll be able to administer hands-on care to patients in a wide array of settings — including hospitals, nursing homes, doctor offices, urgent care, medical flights, corporate settings, and home health care. The specific duties will vary depending on the setting, and include:

• Medication administration per physician orders
• Dressing changes
• Feeding tubes
• Inserting and irrigating NG tubes and Foley catheters
• Wound care
• Ventilation and tracheostomy care and suctioning andotracheally
• Patient education
• One-on-one nursing care in a home environment

The job of a registered nurse requires that you are empathetic, are able to work in fast-paced environments, remain calm during a crisis, and think on your feet. It also provides you with flexibility, as you can tailor your shifts to what works best with your schedule — such as longer shifts for more days off during the week, or picking up additional shifts if you so desire.

How to Become an RN

Getting the required degree, passing the NCLEX-RN, and complying with your state’s licensing board requirements are the main prerequisites to become a registered nurse. However, there are additional standards that must be met, prior to the higher education studies, including:

• Minimum scores on the SAT or ACT
• A good high school GPA
• Three years of science subjects

Once you graduate with an ADN or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you apply for the NCSBN and wait to receive authorization for testing. Once you receive it, you can schedule the exam.

RN Careers at Care Options for Kids

At Care Options for Kids, you can choose to work with adult or pediatric patients — and work as part of a team. We also strive to make the experience as positive as possible by matching our caregivers with clients’ specific needs and personalities. In addition, we offer the following benefits:

• Competitive pay
• Flexible work schedules
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Nurse Referral Bonus Program
• Weekly pay
• 24/7 on-call support
• CEU credits

If You’re Looking for a Career as an RN, Contact Care Options for Kids for Home Health Care

If you’re a Registered Nurse and looking for career opportunities in a home health care setting, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our careers page or contact us at (888) 592-5855 for more information.