Associate Degree in Nursing Job Description
The nursing career is one with a wide range of potential credentials, titles, work settings, and responsibilities.
If you’re considering a career in this field, you might find yourself confused as to what credentials provide you with which job opportunities. There are certain nursing careers you can become eligible for with just a short time spent in school, like an NA (nursing assistant) or LPN (licensed practical nurse). But if you’re looking to add more responsibilities to your plate, want to be more involved in patient care, and look forward to lots of hands-on work and a great deal of choice in working environments, you’ll want to explore an associate’s degree in nursing, or ASN.
At Health Career Institute, you can start and complete your nursing education with this associate of science degree, which puts you in the position to begin working in one of the most popular and widely-utilized nursing positions, that of a registered nurse (RN).
Registered Nurse (RN)
There has consistently been a high demand for registered nurses in the medical field. Experts predict that the trend will only continue, and the demand for RNs may grow even more in the coming years. Registered nurses are highly valued members of healthcare teams, as they have the credentials to administer care to patients and the education to provide information to patients, families, and the public.
Registered nurses also may be tasked with supervising other members of the nursing staff, overseeing and executing administrative procedures in a medical office, and educating the public on general health matters. Registered nurses work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, schools, and for organizations requiring onsite medical support.
The 2015 median pay for registered nurses according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was over $67,000. This number varies with location and region, environment, size of the nursing team, and any specializations you may choose to obtain credentials in. In 2014, there were more than 2 million RN positions in the United States, and the BLS predicts that the growth of the field over the next decade will be much faster than the average of other professions. It is a great time to begin schooling to obtain an associate’s degree in nursing.
