What is a nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,
Kim Raines
introduction image

A nurse is a healthcare professional who provides patient care in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, schools, and other healthcare settings. They work alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals to assess, plan, and implement care for patients. Nurses perform physical exams, administer medications, monitor vital signs, and manage patient care plans. They also provide emotional support to patients and their families, educate patients on managing their health, and advocate for patient rights.

What general advice would you give to a 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.
ScoreNurseUS Average
Salary
4.5

Avg. Salary $57,564

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 8.86%

Black or African American 11.53%

Hispanic or Latino 9.55%

Unknown 4.30%

White 65.31%

Gender

female 86.03%

male 13.97%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a Nurse?

Pros

  • Job security and stability

  • Wide range of career paths and specialties

  • Good salary and benefits

  • Flexible scheduling options

  • High demand

Cons

  • Emotionally and physically demanding work

  • Long and irregular hours

  • Exposure to illness and disease

  • High stress environment

  • Dealing with difficult patients or families

Nurse career paths

Key steps to become a nurse

  1. Explore nurse education requirements

    Most common nurse degrees

    Bachelor's

    42.8 %

    Associate

    34.6 %

    Diploma

    8.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific nurse skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients21.30%
    Home Health6.88%
    CPR6.42%
    BLS6.03%
    Acute Care4.70%
  3. Complete relevant nurse training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nurse resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed nurse in most of states. 43 states require 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 requiredLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
    AlaskaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredNurse, Licensed Practical
    ArkansasDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
    CaliforniaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredLicensed Vocational Nurse
    ColoradoDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredLicensed Practical Nurse
  5. Gain additional nurse certifications

    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 nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

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

    More About Certifications
  6. Research nurse duties and responsibilities

    • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
    • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
    • Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
    • Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
  7. Prepare your nurse resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 Nurse Resume templates

    Build a professional 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 Nurse resume.
    Nurse Resume
    Nurse Resume
    Nurse Resume
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    Nurse Resume
  8. Apply for nurse jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a 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 Nurse Job

Zippi

Are you a Nurse?

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Average nurse salary

The average Nurse salary in the United States is $57,564 per year or $28 per hour. Nurse salaries range between $38,000 and $86,000 per year.

Average Nurse Salary
$57,564 Yearly
$27.68 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do nurses rate their job?

4/5

Based On 3 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Nurse reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

How employers and our patients or clients appreciate what we do for them

Cons

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


profile
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


profile
5.0
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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