---
title: What to Know about Registered Nurses
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/what-is-a-registered-nurse/"
type: post
date_published: 2019-12-10
date_modified: 2025-08-01
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 380
reading_time: 2 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/what-is-a-registered-nurse/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nurse-and-baby1.jpg"
categories:
  - Nursing Careers
---

# What to Know about Registered Nurses

![Why Become a Nurse? - A woman holding a baby - Infant](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nurse-and-baby1.jpg)

## What to Know about Registered Nurses

---

You’ve likely heard the term ‘RN’ – but do you know what one is, or what one
does? RN stands for registered nurse, which, to put it broadly, is a licensed
professional who provides direct medical care to patients.

Registered nurses are in great demand in recent years due to an aging nurse
population; for every eight retiring nurses there are only five going into
nursing leaving a deficit balance of nurses filling vacant positions. Even the
most recent
[Bureau of Labor Statistics expects](http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm)
registered nursing jobs to grow by 12% by 2028, and this growth is much faster
than the average growth in other industries.

But if your idea of a registered nursing job is large hospitals with brightly
lit hallways, this is only one option of working environments for nurses. The
day-to-day work environment of a registered nurse can vary greatly. Though, the
higher education level and training you possess – such as a Bachelor of Science
in Nursing versus an Associates Degree – the more autonomy and decision-making
liberties you’ll enjoy in your job.

### RN Duties and Responsibilities

Here are some of the duties and responsibilities you can expect from registered
nurses:

- Supervising LPNs, CNAs and nursing students
- Administer medications; both oral and intravenously
- Assuring a physician’s medical orders are carried out
- Collaborating with physicians and other health professionals
- Providing emotional support to patients and their loved ones
- Teaching patients about their health conditions and providing treatment
  instructions and provide discharge planning

### Skills Needed for Success as an RN

Skills to succeed in a registered nursing role:

- Comprehensive understanding of human physiology and anatomy
- An abundance of patience
- Ability to operate computer systems
- A passion to help others
- Analytical assessments using critical thinking skills
- Exceptional organizational skills

Of course, any good registered nurse must also have great interpersonal skills
since the majority of the job involves interacting with people. It’s not easy
talking to a busy surgeon one minute and then calmly explaining an upcoming
procedure to a woman who’s hard of hearing. Nurses must be able to interact
swiftly and effectively with everyone they come into contact with.

---

_Information in this blog post is accurate as of December 10, 2019._

**Categories:** Nursing Careers