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Those two little letters – RN – have a lot of meaning behind them. It stands for Registered Nurse, but what it really means is that you’re a professional who has earned a nursing license, and therefore can practice as a nurse in your state. As of 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,751,000 registered nurses in the United States.
Thinking of joining that elite group? If so, read on to learn more about what it takes to get a nursing license and become an RN.
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First things first, you need to know exactly what a nursing license is. The short answer is that it gives you the right to work as an RN, but there’s more to it than that. Stated more officially by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing: “Licensure is the process by which boards of nursing grant permission to an individual to engage in nursing practice after determining that the applicant has attained the competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice.”
The key here is that a nursing license shows you’ve got what it takes to make it in this challenging profession because you’ve been educated in nursing courses given by nursing educators, practiced hands-on clinical healthcare settings for the required number of hours, and rigorously tested by a standardized national exam.
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To earn your nursing license, you basically have to complete your approved nursing education program of choice, and then pass the national licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN.
School Days
There is actually more than one path you can take in order to begin working as an RN. In fact, there are three: a bachelor’s degree in nursing; an associate degree in nursing; or a diploma program. You must choose a program that is approved by a board of nursing, and complete it in order to sit for the licensing exam.
Obviously a bachelor’s degree is the longest path, taking four years, but the additional education can provide a competitive edge for higher paying or more desirable positions. Still, many people choose the quicker associate or diploma routes so they can start working in the field sooner. Often, these RNs do end up going back to school to continue their education at some point in order to advance their careers.
Test Time
Before you can register for the NCLEX-RN, you have to graduate from your nursing program. As Kaplan, the test preparation company, explains, the exam judges test takers on how they will use their nursing school knowledge and critical thinking skills to make nursing judgments and decisions. It is given as an interactive CAT (computer adaptive test) format, meaning the questions you get are based on your responses you give to prior questions. In other words, no two students will take exactly the same test. The exam results are not scored, but instead it is determined if you passed or failed. You’ll receive notification of your results within 2-4 weeks from your State Board of Nursing. If you do not pass, you can retake the exam after 45 days.
Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, the final hurdle before receiving your nursing license is that you may have to pass a criminal background check. This requirement will vary by state.
You can find each State Board of Nursing here to learn more about the specific requirements for licensure in your state.
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Once you earn your nursing license, you can begin working in the state in which it was issued. But what happens if you decide to move, or wish to work in a neighboring state, or as a travel nurse? Even though you passed the NCLEX-RN, which is a national exam, each state board of nursing has its own set of rules called the Nursing Practice Act. Therefore, you may have to transfer your nursing license in order to work in a new state, and/or follow a slightly different set of rules.
Nursing license reciprocity
The good news is that you are not required you to take any additional exams if you already have your nursing license elsewhere since you already passed the nationally recognized exam. Most times, with a valid license and a clean record, you can apply for a new state license. Reciprocity comes into play in that it allows you to practice using a temporary permit (usually 90 days) while you await your new license application to be processed. Note that fees and requirements vary by state, and you’ll be expected to familiarize yourself with the new state’s Nursing Practice Act.
Compact states
This whole process is simplified if your original license was earned in one of the 25 states that adhere to the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement, and you wish to practice in another compact state. That legislation basically allows nurses to practice in member states without having to recertify. Essentially, you’ll hold a multi-state nursing license, for which all of your information and work history will be kept in a database that can be accessed by anyone hiring nurses in participating states. In other words, less paperwork, red tape, and fees all around for compact state nurses.
If your primary residence or the new state you’d like to work in is not a compact state, however, the application process will be somewhat more lengthy and costly. You can view a list of compact states here.
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Earning a nursing license does take a lot of work, as it should given the huge amount of responsibility that RNs handle everyday. Once you earn it, however, that accomplishment will open doors for the rest of your nursing career.
RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!
During one of my initial, lengthy conversations with my new best friend (read: my recruiter), I was shocked to learn that most nurses only do one travel assignment. What!? One!? Do they know there are 50 states!?
I understand there are a lot of different reasons why one might not try for a second assignment-homesickness, loneliness, maybe you thought that hospital’s policies were off base, or you think you found your new home unit.
These are all real things that could definitely send someone running back home or ready to buy a new home and settle in their new city. Let me share with you why I believe it’s so important to do more than one assignment.
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First, we’ll start with the most obvious. The more assignments you do, the more places you get to see! If I would have stopped after just one assignment all I would’ve seen outside of tiny little Rosebud,Texas was Las Vegas, Nevada. Okay maybe that wasn’t a good example because Vegas is well, Vegas.
After Las Vegas however, I went on assignments in Los Angeles, San Fransisco, San Diego, Houston, New York City, Baltimore, San Antonio, Knoxville, and Chicago. And it’s only been three years!
With a permanent staff job it would take 10 years to see all those cities; five, if you’ve got lots of flier miles and two vacations a year. There were cities that weren’t even on my radar that I absolutely fell in love with. Namely, San Diego-it’s my soul city.
Maybe your reason for traveling was to pay off debt or to build up a savings account (I’m looking at you fellow Millennials.) Yes, money is a major reason why so many are initially drawn to travel nursing but the experiences of living in new cities, meeting new people, and making new ‘forever friends’ is equally if not more, valuable.
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Speaking of valuable life experiences, expanding one’s knowledge base is a welcomed side effect of travel nursing. There is an infinite number of things one can learn working in a new unit.
Limiting your travel to just one assignment really sells yourself short on all the things a new hospital has to offer. With a new hospital or unit comes new equipment, new disease processes, different patient acuities, different coworker dynamics, and different charting, just to name a few.
I learned so much from my first assignment but it was still pretty similar to my home unit, all the way down to the paper charting. I started off with general Pediatric ICU experience and it wasn’t until my second and third assignments where I really started to see more than just the regular ol’ ‘PICU potpourri’.
After Vegas, I got to dabble in Pediatric Cardiac ICU. Lucille Packard Children’s in Palo Alto, California is where I got my first dose of all things regarding congenital cardiac defects and the surgeries that repair them. Lucille Packard was also where I learned how to care for patients that were status post liver and kidney transplants.
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Alright, I’m going to be real honest here and admit that I haven’t absolutely loved every single one of my 11 assignments. Out of those eleven, there were only two assignments that left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
However, I feel like those are pretty good odds (Vegas got to me!). Even at a permanent job there are going to be days or weeks where you feel overworked or under appreciated … October through March, anyone? The reason I say this is because even though the odds are that your first assignment will be great, there’s a small chance it might be rough.
The first assignment is going to be an emotional rollercoaster. At the beginning it will be exciting and a little scary at your new job. Then you’ll get settled and start feeling comfortable. Next at least for me, you’ll feel a tad bit homesick. Lastly, excitement again and you’ll start working with your recruiter to find your new destination!
The first assignment is an adjustment and just like with anything else in life, the more you do it the easier it will become and the more you get out of it. All of the anxieties that I had initially with my first assignments are gone. Now as crazy as it seems, I get anxious when I think about settling down somewhere. And please don’t even bring up buying a house, that one freaks me right out!
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Lastly and logistically, the process of doing a second and third assignment (or more) is much easier than the first. With the first assignment comes lots of paper work, tax forms, checklists, document faxing, and doctor visits. After all that mumbo jumbo is done, it is only required that you renew those things once a year.
Consecutive assignments are much less stressful to begin. All that is required is picking a new spot (and maybe a drug screen and a handful of online learning modules) and hitting the road!
Becoming a travel nurse has been the most rewarding life decision I’ve ever made (okay, maybe marrying my husband is the most). Travel nursing will mold you into a person who is more culturally informed, brave, creative, flexible, knowledgeable, and adventurous.
It will test you and stretch you to limits you didn’t think you could handle and you’ll come out on the other side a stronger nurse who can handle anything life-or the charge nurse-throws at you. Though one assignment can be rewarding, I believe two or more (or 11!) are necessary in order to get the most out of travel nursing and for it to truly transform your life.
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From my personal experience and from chatting with my colleagues, I think there is a general consensus amongst nurses that getting a job isn’t particularly challenging these days, considering there is a need for qualified, experienced nurses all over the country.
As of late, the demand for travel nurses remains high which makes it easier to get in the game, but you must be prepared when things cool down. Learning how to negotiate your salary, make yourself an appealing candidate and how to get the best jobs are valuable skillsets.
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A travel nurse’s salary is broken down into three parts and understanding which parts are negotiable will give you a leg up.
Tax Free Reimbursements: Tax free reimbursement for your travel/meals and incidentals is pre-determined by the government and based on the city you are traveling to. Unless you are a superstar negotiator or a lawmaker, this my friends is non-negotiable. To see what your tax free reimbursements are for each city you can visit gsa.gov.
Hourly Base Pay: Your hourly base pay also tends to be non-negotiable because your travel nursing agency has contracts with several facilities where the base pay for travelers has already been set.
Benefits/Bonuses: Opportunities for negotiation can come into play when you extend your contract, with travel reimbursement and possibly with other benefits. If a facility asks you to extend your contract, you may ask for an extension bonus and an hourly pay raise.
If you extend, you save your travel agency and the hospital money because they do not have to orient you. Also, most companies offer health insurance coverage as part of their benefits package. If you opt out of taking an agency’s health insurance and get your own, they may give you an additional bonus with each of your contracts.
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Whether making money or seeing the country is your intention for traveling, we all want to end up with the most ideal job.
If you are looking to travel to a specific place make sure your recruiter knows where you want to go. The assignment boards on your company’s website may not be up to date so keep a lookout on social media like Facebook and LinkedIn for assignments in destinations that you want to travel to.
Your company might not have a contract in a specific city or hospital you want to work in, which may require you to switch companies. Working with multiple companies is a common practice amongst travelers.
If you’re traveling intention is to make some dough, there are plenty of hospitals in undesirable locations who offer crisis pay for a multitude of reasons. You also have the opportunity to sign contracts that guarantee you four shifts a week. You may not like the location but you will love your paycheck.
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I know nurses are awesome but it doesn’t mean that you will get every job you want just because you are a nurse. No matter what field you are in it is important to remain organized, prepared and competitive.
I believe the best way to make yourself standout in the travel world is with experience and a large skill set. The more years of experience and specialized training you have prior to starting your travel nursing career will make you stand out amongst your peers and open up opportunities for employment.
As a current traveler it is vital that you maintain a good track record and have positive evaluations. Having a variety of assignments, including both large and small, teaching and non-teaching hospitals is important.
In addition to maintaining your skillset, I also recommend that you stay organized. There is a lot of paperwork that goes along with travel nursing and it is up to you to maintain it. If a hot crisis pay job comes along or the destination of your dreams and you don’t have your certs up to date, then guess what, you missed out. Keep yourself organized and up to date. Your recruiter will love you for that.
Most of us aren’t in this career just for the money but receiving adequate pay for your hard work is vital to your job satisfaction. As you take more assignments you will learn that spending time negotiating deals while on the road takes time away from enjoying the real benefits of being a travel nurse; unless of course you are in this just for the money then in that case, more power to ya!
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Are you looking to become a Registered Nurse (RN)? Or maybe you are already an RN and are looking to advance your career? Well let me tell you, that you are definitely on the right path to a very rewarding future.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) estimates the projected job growth for Registered Nurses is 19% from 2012 to 2022 and the outlook for Advanced Practice Nurses is even higher at 20%.
For many of you who are pondering the idea of becoming a nurse or advancing your career, the path to this rewarding future may not be so clear. There are numerous options out there, all the way from online courses to full blown doctorate degrees in nursing! The opportunities are endless and all of these options can be overwhelming… so let’s start from the beginning.
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As of now, it only takes two years of schooling to become a Registered Nurse. Nurses who graduate from a two year program receive an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN). This degree can be obtained from a community college or vocational school. ADN programs tend to mainly focus on nursing skills such as administering medications, performing assessments, dressing changes, pharmacology, math calculations, and basic nursing concepts rather than theory.
The benefits of going through an ADN program versus a Bachelor’s Degree (BSN) program are that it is shorter (2 years vs 4 years) and can be cheaper if you go to a community college; most vocational schools are for-profit, so they can be just expensive as a four year college. Another benefit is that one year into the program you can apply to take your practical nursing (PN) test and if you pass, you can work as a practical nurse while you finish your ADN. PN’s can do basic nursing skills such as administer medications and dressing changes but they cannot do assessments.
The downside to only having your ADN is that most hospitals these days are only hiring BSN nurses and are requiring the current ADN nurses to get there BSN. It is also important to note that nursing managers and community health nurses are required to have their BSN, so career advancement may be a challenge if you only have an ADN.
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If career advancement is something you value, then obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) may be the better path for you. A BSN takes approximately four years to complete; I say approximately because it took me six years while working full time. BSN programs tend to be a little more comprehensive than ADN programs; there is more classroom and theory on top of your required clinical time. Examples of theory based classes include evidenced based research and nursing leadership. The BSN programs prepare you for not only bedside clinical nursing but for a leadership role as well. BSN nurses tend to be more hirable and have more opportunity for growth.
There is not a significant pay difference among ADN and BSN trained RN’s. According to the Bureau of Labor and statistics Registered Nurses make approximately $65,470 annually. The downside to getting your BSN is that is does take longer and you might end up with more student loans at the end.
If student loans don’t bother you or you are a BSN nurse who is ready to take your career to the next level, then obtaining your Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) may be right for you. There are numerous types of (MSN) programs out there all focusing on different specialties. MSN in education and leadership programs prepare nurses to become educators, Clinical Nurse Specialists, nurse managers and even Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs). For those of you who prefer to work five days a week, with no holidays, weekends or nights, the education and leadership focused path may be good for you. These nursing professionals also tend to get paid a little more. The average annual salary according to the Bureau for Labor and Statistics is $88,580.
MSN programs focusing on becoming Advanced Practice Nurses, such as Nurse Practitioners, Midwives and Certified Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) provide nurses with the education and skills to diagnose and treat patients under a physician’s supervision. These programs allow nurses to be more autonomous and specialized with their practice. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average annual salary for advance practice nurses is $73,410 with CRNAs making the most money at $158,900 annually. The only disadvantage I can see to obtaining your MSN is time and money spent getting your degree.
If you are still not satisfied with having your MSN or are looking to have an impact on the population as a whole, then a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) may be right for you. DNP programs provide nurses working in advanced practice roles and leadership with the knowledge to impact health care policy. Many of these nurses become college professors, researchers and political figures. The programs are usually two years in addition to your MSN program and of course cost more money.
If you are considering joining the nursing profession, I suggest taking your pre-requisite courses at a community college and transferring to a four year BSN program to obtain your RN license. This is the cheapest and smartest route. If time is an issue for you than obtain your ADN first with the expectation that you will at some point have to obtain your BSN. If you are looking to further your education as a nurse, there are multiple online programs for those ADN nurses who are looking to get there BSN. Some of these programs even combine the BSN and MSN so that you can go straight through without stopping. I recommend avoiding private universities as these tend to be more expensive.
As with anything else in life, it is important to take this professional journey one step at a time. The opportunity for growth in the nursing profession is endless. Choosing to become an RN or further your education can be a timely and expensive process, but in the end, priceless.
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If public speaking is the greatest fear that most people have, then being interviewed has to be right up there with it.
Being interviewed combines that deer-in-the-headlights feeling with the feeling that somebody surely gets when the police are reading them their rights.
Plus, you think, my whole future depends on this!
Well, slow down. Your whole future doesn’t depend on it, but your job often does. And interviewing well (or at least not messing it up) is sometimes the make or break thing in a hiring process. So that’s what this article is about: how to interview for that nursing job that you’re wanting.
Because of the nature of the nursing profession, your interview will have some specialized things to prepare for.
There are two sides to this matter and both of them will probably come up, depending on the position you’re applying for: The first is the broader, professional side to your history, and to what you’ll bring to the position you’re interviewing for.
You should be prepared to talk about how you view your nursing career, how you view your professional field, and how you think that your experience fits into that view. You should have some idea of how your potential employer operates professionally, and how you would fit in with that grid.
For example, let’s say you’re applying for a position in a psychiatric facility, and from your research, you’ve found that the facility uses the tidal model of mental health care in their nursing care. You would want to be able to discuss that model intelligently, and how you think your experience would fit into the commitments and competencies used in that model.
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The other side you’ll need to relate to is the more narrowly focused, technical side of nursing. For these potential questions, it’s a good idea to list out what skills you’re proficient at, what skills you know, but may need brushing up on, and those you don’t know, but are willing to learn.
Prepare to discuss these intelligently, and avoid getting defensive about a skill that you’re not as good at as you are with others. For example, if you’re a med-surg nurse, and you’re applying for a surgical intensive care unit position, do some research and find out some of the procedures, treatments and tests that unit uses.
Know what you can do, and what you can’t. In many situations, if you’re a good candidate, it’s not a deal-breaker if you don’t know everything. In other words, if you’re entering a new nursing area, you should be honest about any lack of knowledge, but you can also say something like this, “I’m eager to transition to this area. I’m a fast learner, and I think that my previous background and skills will bring something to this new position” and then list how that would happen.
How should you dress for an interview? A basic rule of thumb is to at least wear business casual in any interview situation, and the higher up the position, the better dressed you will want to be.
Of course, I don’t need to tell you to not wear scrubs or anything like it, but I’ll say it anyway: don’t! You may be applying for a position where you’ll always be in a uniform, but the interview needs something that suggests your professionalism in a way that uniforms don’t.
And here’s a word of encouragement if you’re looking to get into a new clinical area. It can be discouraging sometimes when employers want certain skills and background, but you can’t get those until you’re hired. Sometimes you feel stuck. That’s when honesty and directness work.
Admit your lack of background, but point out the skills you have, and be enthusiastic about moving into a new area. If the interviewers tell you it wouldn’t work, ask them what you could do to prepare for the position in the future. And keep trying! You might go through several potential employers who won’t hire you, and then find one who’s willing to take a gamble on you.
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Who you’re interviewed by is dependent on the level of the position you’re being hired for. If you’re being hired for an entry-level position (for example, just out of school), you might be interviewed by a manager of the unit where you’re hoping to work. But if you were applying for a position as a chief nursing officer at a large medical facility, you would probably be interviewed a number of times, often by a whole management team. But in any interview situation,, the same principles apply and the preparation I’m outlining here will help you.
There are several things you should do to prepare for an interview, but the first one is to relax. Yes, despite how crucial this interview is, relax, and calm yourself. Because whether an interview is done by phone or in person, if you’re feeling stressed, that feeling will come across, and will probably reflect badly on you.
Remind yourself that the person you’ll be talking to is often just like yourself. They too, have been through this process, and they’ve also felt that stress. Also remember that you’ve already shown your potential employer that you’ve got some good qualifications. If they didn’t think you were good, if they didn’t think you’d bring something good to their work situation, they wouldn’t bother with an interview. So, again: relax.
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If you’re doing a phone interview, there are a couple of things to be careful of. First, if you’ll be on a cell phone, make sure you’re where your reception is good. Make certain your phone’s battery is well charged. It’s probably also a good idea to get dressed up a bit, even for a phone interview.
While that sounds kind of silly, if you’re in a sweatshirt or pajamas, you’ll probably be a bit too relaxed, and you want to be on your game for an interview. If possible, be alone during the interview. This includes infants, children and even pets. Try to find a way to be completely alone, and the interview will go better. Interruptions can also reflect badly on your interview.
If you’re doing an interview via 
Skype, then of course you’ll need to be dressed just as you would for an in-person interview. Pick the room where you’ll be talking. Having a blank wall behind you is probably a good idea, but be especially careful of clutter or anything offensive in the background.
The room where you’ll be should also be well lit. A basic rule of thumb for a Skype interview is to treat it as though the interviewer was coming into the room with you. Because they are. And as soon as you relax that rule, that’s when it comes back to bite you. Dress completely as though the person was in front of you — which means no slippers.
A cat or dog — even when not making noise — should not be in the room. Having said all of that, in any interview situation don’t panic if something goes wrong. Let’s say you were on Skype with the interviewer, and your cat gets into the room, and wants to snuggle. Just tell your interviewer, “Excuse me, let me take care of this,” take care of the situation quickly, and get back to business. How you handle the unexpected tells them something about how you’ll handle the unexpected in your job situation.
Preparing for an interview is important. Preparing means knowing what you want to say about yourself, and knowing about the facility or company you’re interviewing with. There is no excuse for not being familiar with your potential employer. Read their website carefully, and check other sources. That way when a question comes up such as, “Why are you interested in working at this facility?” you can answer intelligently.
You will also want to have intelligent and thoughtful questions prepared to ask during the interview. While you are often able to find information online, you’ll want to find out about the facility and their philosophy, answers that may only be discovered in the interview. You’ll want to know what influences their practice of nursing and how that plays out in both the larger facility as well as the area where you’ll be working. You’ll also want to know about their management style.
In almost every nursing position you’ll be both supervising (other nurses, CNAs, as well as other unit personnel) and supervised (by your management team). Management questions also involves finding out nurse/patient ratios, triage procedures, and float policies. Ask questions about scheduling: what hours are worked in your area, who does the scheduling, and how holiday scheduling is handled. If the area where you’ll be working requires 24/7 coverage, ask if there is on-call coverage, and how that’s handled.
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Most of the time, the questions you’re asked are going to center around your experience and resume. Be prepared to talk about your experience, and what you learned from it. Also be prepared to talk about your goals and where you’d like to see your career going. One important tip to remember is to avoid complaints about past or present work situations. If asked you can critique (meaning, “give constructive advice”) a certain situation, but complaining must be avoided. If it was a terrible situation and you didn’t last long, it’s OK to say, “I didn’t agree with the way my employer handled ________ and I felt there wasn’t a good fit there.” Just be sure to avoid personal attacks and bad mouthing. If there are time gaps in your resume, be prepared to explain them. For instance, let’s say you had a child, and spent two years out of the workplace caring for the child. If the interviewer asks about it, don’t apologize, but simply explain what you were doing during that time. The same goes for a gap in which you were unable to find a job or a gap when you were in school. Don’t bring these up unless you’re asked about them, but be prepared.
Being mentally prepared is essential to a good interview, but don’t neglect the basic nuts and bolts details that can end an interview before it even starts. Make sure you know where you’re to meet the interviewer. Confirm the time, and be a few minutes early. (Being a few minutes early will help you to be calm). Verify if there’s a special place you should park. Bring your phone with you in case you get lost, but be sure it’s on silent when you get there.
When the interview is over, send a thank you note. Not an email, not a text, but a real, live snail mail thank you note. Even if you didn’t think the interview went well, send a thank you. First, because you should. Yes, your mother was right about that. It’s simple courtesy, and while that will help you along in your job search, it’s also the sort of behavior that will you into a more grateful, giving person. People notice that quality — and they usually want that kind of person to work for them. And secondly, because people remember it. People rarely send thank you notes anymore so your effort will be noticed — and remembered. Don’t kiss up, don’t go on and on, just say something like: “Dear Ms. Smith, Just a note to thank you for taking the time with me on the interview last Thursday. It was good meeting you. If you need further information, don’t hesitate to call me. Sincerely, Jane Doe, RN”.
Let’s summarize how to perform well in an interview. The secrets are these: relax, prepare, focus, dress conservatively, and be courteous. You can do an interview well, even if you don’t have a lot of experience. Remember that you’ve got a lot to give to the company or facility you’re interviewing with. Be yourself, and you just might enjoy this crucial step in your job search.
