What is a ward nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Experts
Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,
Kim Raines
The average ward nurse salary is $67,034. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an nursing major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a ward nurse. Ward 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 Ward 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.
ScoreWard NurseUS Average
Salary
5.2

Avg. Salary $67,034

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 10.21%

Black or African American 9.93%

Hispanic or Latino 9.35%

Unknown 4.29%

White 65.78%

Gender

female 76.96%

male 23.04%

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

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Ward Nurse career paths

Key steps to become a ward nurse

  1. Explore ward nurse education requirements

    Most common ward nurse degrees

    Bachelor's

    63.5 %

    Associate

    13.2 %

    Diploma

    9.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific ward nurse skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients29.16%
    CPR19.75%
    Direct Patient Care7.55%
    Administer Medications6.21%
    Vital Signs5.92%
  3. Complete relevant ward nurse training and internships

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

    Becoming a licensed ward nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed ward nurse in most of states. 43 states require ward 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. Research ward 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.
    • Provide comprehensive care for acutely ill and immediate post-operative patients.
    • Lead code blue team throughout the hospital within the scope of ACLS certification.
    • Assess and evaluate nursing and medical needs of institutionalize patients.
  6. Prepare your ward nurse resume

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

    Build a professional Ward 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 Ward Nurse resume.
    Ward Nurse Resume
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  7. Apply for ward nurse jobs

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

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Average ward nurse salary

The average Ward Nurse salary in the United States is $67,034 per year or $32 per hour. Ward nurse salaries range between $42,000 and $104,000 per year.

Average Ward Nurse Salary
$67,034 Yearly
$32.23 hourly

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How do ward nurses rate their job?

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Ward 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


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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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