What is a field nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Experts
Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,
Kim Raines
introduction image
The average field nurse salary is $78,753. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an nursing major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a field nurse. Field nurses with a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 195,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Field Nurse?

L

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.
ScoreField NurseUS Average
Salary
6.2

Avg. Salary $78,753

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.84%

Black or African American 12.42%

Hispanic or Latino 8.93%

Unknown 4.25%

White 65.12%

Gender

female 90.58%

male 9.42%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Field Nurse career paths

Key steps to become a field nurse

  1. Explore field nurse education requirements

    Most common field nurse degrees

    Associate

    42.2 %

    Bachelor's

    37.7 %

    Diploma

    9.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific field nurse skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients33.69%
    Home Health13.84%
    Wound Care7.34%
    Palliative Care6.44%
    IV4.36%
  3. Complete relevant field nurse training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New field nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a field nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real field nurse resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed field nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed field nurse in most of states. 43 states require field nurses to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    State
    ascdesc
    Education
    ascdesc
    Exam
    ascdesc
    License Url
    ascdesc
    AlabamaDegree requiredState exam requiredRegistered Nurse (RN)
    AlaskaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredNurse, Registered
    ArkansasDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredRegistered Nurse (RN)
    CaliforniaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredNurse, Registered
    ColoradoDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredRegistered Nurse
  5. Gain additional field nurse certifications

    Field nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific field nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for field nurses include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

    More About Certifications
  6. Research field nurse duties and responsibilities

    • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
    • Screen prospective clients for need immunizations, implementing after evaluating patients' medical history and obtaining sign release.
    • Promote health literacy by educating patients and caregivers on disease management, diagnosis, medical interventions, and pharmaceuticals.
    • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  7. Prepare your field nurse resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your field nurse resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a field nurse resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Field Nurse Resume templates

    Build a professional Field Nurse resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Field Nurse resume.
    Field Nurse Resume
    Field Nurse Resume
    Field Nurse Resume
    Field Nurse Resume
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    Field Nurse Resume
  8. Apply for field nurse jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a field nurse job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Field Nurse Job

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Average field nurse salary

The average Field Nurse salary in the United States is $78,753 per year or $38 per hour. Field nurse salaries range between $52,000 and $118,000 per year.

Average Field Nurse Salary
$78,753 Yearly
$37.86 hourly

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How do field nurses rate their job?

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Field Nurse reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Cons

What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

Caring for patients

Cons

Staffing ratios, unfairness, constant expectations. Healthcare is a business but doesn’t treat nurses like business employees


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

helping people and saving lives

Cons

the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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