Registered Nurse
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.
Annual openings
3,735
BLS median wage
$100,260
Typical education
Associate’s degree or Bachelor's degree, depending on the program, from a Colorado Approved Professional Nursing Education Program.
10-year growth
+8%
Career requirements
What does this career require?
The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.
Typical education
Associate’s degree or Bachelor's degree, depending on the program, from a Colorado Approved Professional Nursing Education Program.
Credential requirement
A certification is required for this job.
Credential detail
To practice, you will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and be licensed.
Work experience
No previous work experience is required; however it could be an additional step on a career pathway.
Experience detail
This can be a job that does not require previous work experience; however, sometimes a person works as an Certified Nurse Assistant, a Licensed Practical Nurse, or another healthcare occupation before they become a Registered Nurse. RN Training programs will include clinical work experience.
Employer competency information
Feedback from employers identifies the following critical competencies and how they apply for this job
- Communication, Interpersonal Skills, and Teamwork — Working very closely and effectively communicating with doctors, other clinical staff, and patients to provide appropriate care is critical. Displaying patience, good emotional intelligence, and the ability to diffuse difficult situations.
- Customer Focus — Providing excellent customer service is critical, reimbursements are based on patient feedback and outcomes.
- Critical & Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving & Decision Making — Relied upon to complete higher level decision making, such as with observation, situational assessment & diagnosis, triage, and working with higher risk patients.
- Mathematics — Is important when calculating medication.
- Scheduling and Coordinating — It is important to tackle the most important items first, particularly when juggling multiple patients or critical situations. Treatments also require knowledge of the appropriate order of steps.
- Adaptability — There is significant situational and level of criticality changes between patients and situations.
Is this work a fit?
What the work actually feels like
How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.
Work style
- With kids/peopleOccasionally
- On a computerOccasionally
- Outdoors / on-siteOccasionally
- With your handsOccasionally
Interests it draws on
- Healthcare
- Nursing
Automation exposure
Low exposure
Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.
A typical day
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
Also includes
Specializations that share this occupation’s labor-market data.
- Operating Room Nurse
- Critical Care Nurse
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse