RN Jobs Overview
The importance of nurses is undisputed—they literally save lives every day. In a survey of RNs by The Center for the Advancement of Healthcare Professionals, 83% say they are satisfied with their choice of nursing as a career. Two-thirds would encourage others to become nurses. People from a wide variety of backgrounds are drawn to RN jobs as a career.
A typical day for an RN includes working with physicians and other team members to give patients the best care. This includes recording patients' symptoms, administering medicine and treatment, operating medical equipment, and lending support to patients and their families. About 3 million registered nurses work in the U.S.—and yet, a shortage of qualified candidates for RN jobs is expected throughout the next decade.
You'll find lots of job opportunities for registered nurses on Monster. You might start your job search by typing in "healthcare jobs" to get a broad overview of what's out there. You can also narrow your search to a specialty area of nursing, such as:
RN Education and Skills
RN jobs require a degree or diploma from an accredited nursing school, a passing grade on a national RN exam, and a license from the state where you work. Becoming a registered nurse includes time in the classroom and hours of practical work in a healthcare setting. Along with education and technical nursing skills, employers identify five vital skills RNs need to be top job candidates: flexibility, cultural competency, emotional intelligence, positivity, and passion. Take a look at this RN job description to see what else employers are looking for in applicants.
Update Your RN Resume
Great resumes help you get great jobs. Whether you need to create a resume from scratch or want to refresh the one you have, we've got you covered with sample RN resumes for every career level: entry-level jobs, mid-level positions, and a general resume for all nursing jobs. You can use any of these as a template and replace the contents with your information. Take a look at our article with resume tips for nurses too.
Do you find it challenging to know what to write in a cover letter? We have some cover letter samples just for nurses. Since we have lots of experience working with employers and job seekers in the healthcare field, we've also got healthcare cover letter do's and don'ts to help you focus on what employers care about most.
Interviewing for an RN Job
Does the prospect of interviews for an RN job make you nervous? Wouldn't you love to know what interviewers are going to ask you before you walk in? While we're not clairvoyant, we have done our homework on the toughest interview questions often asked of healthcare professionals. They are:
- Why did you choose nursing as a profession?
- Why should we hire you?
- Talk about a time when you disagreed with a co-worker.
- What's your biggest career mistake or failure?
- What do you see as the future of healthcare?
As a registered nurse, you have your pick of jobs, so be sure to find one that's the best fit for you by asking a potential employer targeted questions in a nursing interview.
How Much Do RN Jobs Pay?
Here's a big question. What should you expect to be paid? Walk into that interview with a good idea of what you're worth by using Monster's Salary Tools. The median pay for an RN in the U.S. is $34.94 per hour, but that amount can vary depending on the location of the job. While you're on that page, you'll see pay for related jobs and high-demand job locations for RNs.
Jump Into the RN Job Market
Resume—check. Cover letter—check. Probable interview questions—check. Now, you're ready to start looking on this page for RN jobs. You'll also want to create a profile on Monster. Who knows? An employer or recruiter may find you first! We can also send you job alerts based on what you hope to find, along with tips and information from our career experts.