Provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients about health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support.
Pay
$66,030
Lower reported wage
$93,600
Median
$135,320
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
RN entry routes include a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. A bachelor’s degree is not the only entry route.
Program length and admission prerequisites vary. Compare the specific nursing programs you are considering; additional education may be needed for some jobs.
Complete an approved nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and meet the requirements of the nursing board where you plan to practice.
After initial licensure, renewal and continuing-education rules depend on the jurisdiction.[1]
For U.S. licensure, NCLEX lists a $200 registration fee at this review and announces $350 effective February 1, 2027. Board application and other applicable fees are separate. Check the fee page before budgeting.[2]
Search CareerOneStop by occupation and state, then confirm the rules with the issuing agency. Coverage is incomplete; an empty result does not mean no license is required.
Nursing programs include supervised clinical experience. The BLS description does not establish whether an individual program’s clinical placements are paid.[1]
Costs to check before enrolling
Ask each program about tuition after aid, uniforms and supplies, clinical travel, exam and board fees, and whether clinical hours allow another job.
Planning questions: request a written estimate from each program or sponsor. A total cost has not been verified here.
Majors and routes to explore
A related major can be preparation; it does not by itself qualify you for the career.
Nursing coursework includes anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and the social and behavioral sciences.[1]
Daily life
What you would do
Assess patients, give treatments, record changes, coordinate care, and teach patients and families.[1]
Where you could work
Hospitals, medical offices, home health, nursing facilities, and schools. Home-health work may involve travel between patients.[1]
Hours and flexibility
Hospital and nursing-facility shifts may include nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call work. Office and school roles are more likely to follow business hours.[1]
Physical and emotional demands
Standing, bending, and lifting patients can be physically demanding. Exposure to infection and distressing situations requires safety practices and emotional resilience.[1]
How you could advance
Experience and further education can support moves into charge-nurse or management roles. Advanced practice requires additional role-specific graduate education and credentials.[1]
These are possible directions. Promotion timing and pay depend on the role and employer.
Questions to ask yourself and an employer
Would rotating shifts or weekend work fit my responsibilities at home?
Which setting would suit me: hospital, school, office, or home health?
