Occupation profile

Registered Nurses

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

Bright OutlookApprenticeship

Median Wage

$93,600/yr • $45.00/hr

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Full Occupation Profile
Job Zone

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Education
Bachelor's degree: N/A%
Post-secondary certificate: N/A%
Associate's degree: N/A%
Skills

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Teaching others how to do something.

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Knowledge Areas

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Abilities

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to see details at a distance.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.

The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.

The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.

The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.

The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.

The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.

The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.

The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.

The ability to see under low-light conditions.

The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.

Work Context

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?

How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?

How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Duration of Typical Work Week
58

Number of hours typically worked in one week.

How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

How much does this job require walking or running?

How much does this job require standing?

How much does this job require sitting?

To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?

How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?

How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

How automated is the job?

How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?

How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?

How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?

How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?

How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?

How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?

How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?

How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)

How often does this job require exposure to radiation?

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

Work Schedules
7

How regular are the work schedules for this job?

How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

How often does this job require exposure to high places?

How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?

How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?

Technology Skills

Word processing software

Spreadsheet software

Categorization or classification software

Document management software

Video conferencing software

Video creation and editing software

Office suite software

Cloud-based data access and sharing software

Operating system software

Business intelligence and data analysis software

Time accounting software

Presentation software

Web page creation and editing software

Project management software

Calendar and scheduling software

Information retrieval or search software

Tools and Equipment

Acute care fetal or maternal monitoring units

Endoscopic hemostatic balloons or needles or tubes or accessories

Medical oxygen masks or parts

Reflex hammers or mallets

Diagnostic or interventional vascular catheters for general use

Clinical incubators or infant warmers

Surgical clamps or clips or forceps

Cardiac output CO monitoring units

Surgical drains or drain sets

Intravenous or arterial tubing adapter or connector

Phacoemulsification or extrusion or vitrectomy equipment for ophthalmic surgery

Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes

Flow sensors or regulators or components

Infusion pump kits

Steam autoclaves or sterilizers

Enteral feeding infusion pump tubing sets

Mobile medical services torso immobilizers

Ventilator accessories

Intubation laryngoscopes/ laryngoscope blades

Eye charts or vision cards

Arm traction supplies

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles

Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines

Patient lifts

Cardiac pacemaker generators or cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers CRT-P

Restraint vests and jackets

Adult Surgical drapes

Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy

Medical gas cylinders or related devices

Respiratory humidifiers or vaporizers

Pulse oximeter units

Vascular sequential compression pump

Medical head hoods

Respiratory manometer kits

Intravenous syringe infusion pumps

Hand or finger traction supplies

Non invasive continuous positive air pressure machines

Clinical hydraulic lifts

Arterial blood gas monitors

Medication or pill dispensers

Intraaortic balloon pumps

Vascular or compression socks

Intracranial pressure ICP monitoring units

Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors

Ventricular assist devices

Endoscopic or surgical light sources

Colposcopes or vaginoscopes

Head or neck traction supplies

Mobile resuscitator or aspirator kits

Medical acoustic stethoscopes

Electronic encyclopedias

Notebook computer

Intravenous or arterial extension tubing

Continuous passive motion CPM devices

Extremity restraints

Autotransfusion units

Gastric decompression tubes

Cervical collars or neck braces

Patient bed or table scales for general use

Enema kits

Endotracheal tubes

Surgical needle holders

Benchtop centrifuges

Vaginal exam speculas

Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines

Holter or wearable EKG monitoring systems or accessories

Sputum collection apparatus or containers

Surgical suction machine or vacuum extractor or ultrasonic surgical aspirator

Radio frequency transmitters or receivers

Medical or surgical suction sets or kits

Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps

Multiparameter vital sign units

Intravenous tubing with catheter administration kits

Vision testing stereoscopes

Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets

Restraint straps or buckles or supplies

Hemodialysis dialyzer reprocessing systems

Latex intermittent urinary catheterization kits

Tracheostomy accessories

Anesthesia nerve block kit or tray

Intravenous infusion pump analyzers or sensors

Pelvis or back traction supplies

Lap mayo trays or mayo stands for surgical use

Walkers or rollators

Sexual assault determination kits

Urological procedure trays or packs or kits

Clinical trapeze bars

Ultraviolet UV lamps

Heating or drying equipment or accessories

Surgical retractors

Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers

Suture removal kits or trays or packs or sets

Blood warming or transfusion systems

Orthopedic splint systems

Patient motion sensors or alarms

Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units

Patient care beds for general use

Respiratory aspirator products

Esophagogastroduodenoscopes or gastroduodenoscopes or gastroscopes

Urinalysis analyzers

Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs

Orthopedic traction hardware or weights

Mobile medical services head immobilizers

Medical syringes without needle

Skin staple removers or kits

Oxygen therapy delivery system products

Tablet computer

Medical nasal cannulas

Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices

Lower extremity prosthetic devices

    Audiometers

      Canes

        Arterial line catheters

          Apnea monitors

            Nasogastric tubes

              Electrocardiography EKG units

                Blood collection needles

                  Upper extremity prosthetic devices

                    Crutches

                      Nebulizers

                        Medical tuning forks

                          Mobile medical services spine boards

                            Intubation stylets

                              Tourniquets

                                Laser printers

                                  Suture needles

                                    Umbilical catheters

                                      Urinalysis test strips

                                        Binocular light compound microscopes

                                          Detailed Work Activities
                                          Work Styles
                                          Attention to Detail
                                          100

                                          A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.

                                          Dependability
                                          98

                                          A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.

                                          Cooperation
                                          88

                                          A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.

                                          Integrity
                                          85

                                          A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.

                                          Cautiousness
                                          77

                                          A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related decisions or doing work.

                                          Empathy
                                          76

                                          A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feelings at work.

                                          Adaptability
                                          75

                                          A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas at work.

                                          Social Orientation
                                          75

                                          A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.

                                          Stress Tolerance
                                          74

                                          A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.

                                          Self-Control
                                          71

                                          A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in response to criticism or difficult situations at work.

                                          Sincerity
                                          71

                                          A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, without concern for personal gain or self-interest.

                                          Perseverance
                                          69

                                          A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in the face of difficult circumstances or obstacles at work.

                                          Self-Confidence
                                          55

                                          A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control one's work-related outcomes.

                                          Optimism
                                          52

                                          A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even under difficult circumstances.

                                          Leadership Orientation
                                          49

                                          A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.

                                          Intellectual Curiosity
                                          47

                                          A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep understanding of work-related subjects.

                                          Tolerance for Ambiguity
                                          47

                                          A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.

                                          Initiative
                                          44

                                          A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may fall outside of one's required work role.

                                          Humility
                                          43

                                          A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.

                                          Achievement Orientation
                                          40

                                          A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.

                                          Innovation
                                          40

                                          A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

                                          Work Values

                                          Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

                                          Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

                                          Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

                                          Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

                                          Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

                                          Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

                                          Reference

                                          O*NET in-it

                                          This page includes information from the O*NET Career Exploration Tools by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the O*NET Tools Developer License. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Beesla has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.