The Caring Support Blog

What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?

February 14, 2023

Updated on February 22, 2023

The most typical kind of nurse is a registered nurse. They are well-educated in medical terms and illness processes, and they have a high degree of education and experience. Registered nurses (RNs) deliver and organize medical care, inform the public about various health issues, and offer patients and their families counseling and emotional support. Basically, everything a doctor can do, with the exception of diagnosing diseases, doing physical surgery, or giving medication.

Registered nurses also go by the names of licensed nurses and/or advanced practice registered nurses. To give you an understanding of what this function entails, let me discuss each of these.

What Is a Registered Nurse?

Registered nurses (RNs) are the professionals who care for patients in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. To be an RN, you need to have a license to practice nursing in your state or province. You also need to complete a bachelor's degree program that includes both classroom education and clinical experience.

You will then have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). After you pass this test, your license will be valid for five years before you have to recertify by taking another exam. Some states allow nurses who hold licenses from other countries to become registered nurses by passing their individual exams or exams offered through organizations approved by the state board of nursing or national council of certification of nurse anesthesia personnel (NCCNAP).

How to become a registered nurse in Canada?

To become a registered nurse, you must complete an accredited nursing degree program at an approved college or university. A two-year associate's degree in nursing (ADN) is the most common degree for entry-level RNs. Some states require nurses to hold a four-year bachelor's degree, so check your state's requirements before applying to programs.

Once you have completed your education and passed the national licensing exam, you are ready to start searching for employment opportunities as an RN. You may find jobs through direct hire recruiters or job boards such as Monster and Indeed, but if you want more control over where and with whom you work then it makes sense to apply directly through hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Also, there are many types of RN programs available in Canada and the United States, including vocational and associate degree programs, as well as certificate and diploma programs.

All RNs must have graduated from an accredited school, such as St. Mary's University College or Mcgill University. You will also need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam. The NCLEX assesses your ability to use nursing knowledge and techniques to provide safe patient care under a wide range of conditions. You will not be able to work as an RN unless you successfully pass this exam!


There are many different ways you can become a registered nurse (RN). The first step is to obtain your Nursing Diploma after completing high school, or college or university education. Once you have this, you need to apply for registration with a provincial nursing regulatory body. This can be difficult if you do not hold Canadian citizenship. To work as an RN in Canada and practice in Canada, you must:

  1. be born in Canada or be granted landed immigrant status
  2. establish permanent residence in the province where you want to work as an RN

Benefits of being a Registered nurse

There are several benefits to becoming a registered nurse. First, you have the opportunity to work flexible hours and this can help with balancing your home life with work. Second, your salary is likely to be higher than other entry-level positions, so if you choose this career path, you will more easily be able to pay off student loans or purchase a home sooner than later. Thirdly, nursing offers excellent benefits packages such as retirement plans and health insurance coverage for both employees and their families. Fourthly is job security: no matter what happens in the economy or industry pressures - nurses are always needed!

Finally, there's job satisfaction: as registered nurses, we get paid well but we also enjoy doing something meaningful every day; working with people who need us most helps us feel fulfilled at all times...

What are my responsibilities as an RN?

As a registered nurse, you will:

  1. Provide direct patient care. This may include activities like dressing wounds, explaining treatments and procedures, giving medications and more.
  2. Document patient care. Your notes are often referred to as a "medical record," which is a permanent document that tracks all the information related to your patient's treatment plan and progress over time. You'll also maintain other documents such as discharge summaries or admission histories when new patients arrive at the hospital or clinic where you work.
  3. Assess patient needs and make recommendations for care. You'll assess each person who comes into the hospital or clinic for signs of illness or injury; from there, you'll recommend treatment options based on what's best for each individual situation (for instance: surgery versus medication). If no one knows about their condition yet--like if someone has just been in an accident--it might be up to you to explain what happened so that they can receive proper medical attention right away!

What types of nursing jobs are there?

There are many different types of nursing jobs for registered nurses. If you have a passion for helping people, working as a nurse is an excellent option. Registered nurses may find employment in hospitals and clinics, physicians' offices, schools, or other healthcare settings. Registered nurses also work as flight nurses on aircraft that do not have a physician on board. A registered nurse can choose to work in the military or private industry instead of going straight into nursing training after earning his/her LPN degree. For those who like to be challenged professionally, becoming an RN-PhD will open up new opportunities and possibly lead to additional earning potential over time since many PhDs earn more money than those with just bachelor degrees alone due to their skillset being so desirable by companies looking for top talent within their field(s).

Where can I work as an RN?

Registered nurses work in a variety of settings, including:

How to apply for a job as a registered nurse in Canada

  1. Apply to an employer
  2. Apply to a school
  3. Apply to an agency
  4. Apply to a staffing company

Salary of a registered nurse in Canada

  1. Registered nurses in Canada earn anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000 per year. The average salary is around $50,000 per year.
  2. In Alberta, RNs earn an average of $52,000 annually; in British Columbia and Ontario it’s about $55,000 each year; and in Quebec, it's about $47,000 annually.

Where can I work as an RN?

If you're looking for a job as an R.N., there are many options. You can work in a hospital setting, at a nursing home or other long-term care facility, or in-home health care services. You can also find jobs working in community health centers or private practices.

RN job


Nursing jobs in Canada

Considering the labour shortage in Canada, nursing is one of the most demanded professions. This deficit is anticipated to continue. In cities all around the country, there are many options for newcomers to work in nursing. An essential part of Canada's healthcare system is played by registered nurses (RNs). While the pandemic presented an urgent need, the demand for RNs is driven by Canada's aging population, which will result in an increase in the number of healthcare services needed. The retirement of nurses from the workforce has an impact on the rising demand.

As a result, there are more nursing jobs in Canada. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) will be essential in bridging the nursing job shortfall as a result of these causes. In addition to working in hospitals, registered nurses can also find employment in clinics, rehab facilities, nursing homes, and private households.

Nursing jobs in Ottawa

Registered nurses can work in Ottawa hospitals, nursing clinics, walk-in clinics, and urgent care facilities. Candidates are urged to confirm they have the educational requirements for registered nurse positions before submitting their applications. Candidates should carefully read the most recent issue of Registered Nurse before applying for any open jobs; only those candidates who meet the requirements should do so; otherwise, their application will be denied.


You can register with Caring Support to learn more about healthcare professionals and we will also assist you to find jobs if you are a registered nurse seeking a career or probably an aspiring one.

About The Author
Arielle Rosales
Content Writer

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