Have you always pictured your future career to be a caring, compassionate, and supportive one? If so, nursing may be the career for you! Registered nurses (RNs) work at the bedsides of patients in order to facilitate healing. Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, administer medications such as IV fluids, collaborate with doctors and other members of the health care team, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. Job descriptions vary depending on the specific environment a nurse is working in. Registered nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in correctional facilities, schools, or serve in the military. Some of the different specialties nurses can work in include pediatrics, labor and delivery, surgery, hospice, mental health, rehab, schools, home care, and much more. Introduction/Definition/What is the Job? Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the 11% average for most occupations. The first step in becoming a registered nurse is to do some research about a nursing program offered at a university or community college near you. Most universities and colleges offer a nursing program. Pay attention to whether the program is a two year or four year program, since both are available. Schedule an appointment with a nursing counselor to learn more about the program of interest. It is necessary to take a number of pre- requisites before beginning the program, such as biology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, english, and other science courses. After this, you will be required to take an admission exam and earn a certain score or higher to be admitted in the program. Note: some nursing programs have a waiting list. After being admitted to the nursing program, you must take multiple nursing- specific courses and participate in clinical rotations. Once you graduate from nursing school, you must earn your nursing license before you work by taking a national exam called the NCLEX, which tests your basic nursing knowledge. If you think becoming a Registered Nurse is the perfect career for you, do your research, meet with a counselor, and apply to a nursing program of interest. Take the next step in changing your life forever! "To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; is to be a nurse." - Rawsi Williams Process Conclusion Job Market Outlook Salary Because nurses are able to specialize in a number of fields, RN salaries vary. The average annual salary for a registered nurse in Michigan is between $60,000 and $65,000. Degree Required RN’s are able to work with variety of degrees. The most basic degree required to work as a registered nurse is the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (also knows as an associates degree in nursing, or ADN), which is a two year program after completing the necessary pre-requisites. Because nursing is becoming more and more competitive, workplaces are preferring that employees earn their Bachelors of Science in Nursing-or BSN-a 4 year degree. BSN degrees are much more preferred but are not a requirement to work as an RN. Many RN’s also go on to earn a Masters Degree in Nursing (MSN) and even a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Registered Nurse (RN) Sarah Kazbour R.N