Registered Nurses Description OES Code: 325020 Administer nursing care to ill or injured persons. Licensing or registration required. Include administrative, public health, industrial, private duty, and surgical nurses. CA Wages/hour median range New, no experience: $15.00 $9.00 – $22.29 New, experienced: $17.00 $10.00 – $26.50 3 yrs+ experience: $19.47 $11.00 – $30.50 Local Wages • CCOIS Survey • OES Survey Hours & Benefits A nurse's schedule varies. Nurses may work a morning shift one week and a night the next. Some emergency room staff work 24-hour shifts twice a week, while others work three 12-hour shifts weekly. Clinic staff usually work a five day, 40-hour week. Fringe benefits may vary among employers. Most employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, health and retirement benefits, dental, and vision insurance. Employment Trends Employment 1996 182,450 Projected Employment 2006 221,920 Growth Rate 1996-2006 21.6% Openings due to Separations 27,950 Employment Trends by California County Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners rank among the top fifty largest growth occupations in California. The State Board of Nursing reports that there are more than 280,000 RNs in California. Despite this large number, shortages still exist, due mainly to workers leaving and reentering this occupation many times throughout their careers. Hospital and clinics have ongoing, active recruitment programs, some offering unique benefits, to attract applicants. Some Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) may employ Nurse Practitioners instead of physicians for certain medical duties. This trend, which has heightened the demand for Nurse Practitioners, should continue as HMOs become more common. Competition may be keen for the higher paying jobs in large cities. Advancement Experienced RNs may advance from bedside nursing to supervisory positions or clinical specialist positions, such as Critical Care Nurse. Those with bachelor's degrees may become nursing administrators, consultants, educators, or researchers. A growing number take special courses, often earning a master's degree, to become Nurse Practitioners. Nurse Practitioners may advance into administration, but most view themselves as health care professionals trained to diagnose and treat patients for illnesses and injuries formerly treated only by doctors. Most of them stay in this occupation throughout their career life. Getting the Job & Other Information Nursing school graduate placement services link RNs and Nurse Practitioners with jobs. They should also apply directly to hospitals, clinics and physicians. Nursing Associations and newspaper ads also have job leads. State, county, city, and federal personnel administration offices provide announcements of jobs and requirements. For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.   © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997. Questions or Comments? Contact us.

Click arrow at bottom left of image to begin. Requires QuickTime Education and Training RNs must be licensed to practice in California by the State Board of Registered Nursing. The licensing requirements are: – Completion of a board approved nursing program. – Pass the examination given by the State board. RNs with active licenses from other states may also be granted California licenses RNs must renew their California licenses every two years and complete 30 hours of continuing nursing education during each two-year period. Two types of Registered Nurse training programs are available in California: two year community college associate degree programs and four year bachelor's degree programs. Both programs include clinical experience in one or more hospitals and clinics in addition to classroom instruction. Most community colleges give Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) credit for their basic nursing course work and experience. LVNs can complete the requirements for an associate degree in nursing in two years. At that point, a LVN can work or transfer to a four year college to obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing to be licensed as an RN. LVNs with associate degrees, or former military medical corps workers, may qualify for advanced placement in four year bachelor's degree nursing programs. Nurse Practitioners must have a valid RN license and complete a program of study approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses to become licensed practitioners. This graduate level training is offered by hospitals and universities. It usually lasts one to two years and leads to a certificate or master's degree. A pharmacology course and six months of supervised experience with a physician and California Board of Registered Nurses certification prepares practitioners to prescribe medication and medical devices. High school students should take chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and other science and math courses to prepare for nursing school. Skills & Other Requirements Prospective nurses should exhibit leadership, self confidence, and emotional stability. Other needed traits are a pleasant personality, patience, and an ability to deal with people of all cultures and social levels. Although most tasks are not strenuous, nurses need physical stamina to perform their duties. They also need emotional stability to cope with human suffering and frequent emergencies. A few Registered Nurses work in dramatic environments as team members of emergency response teams. They may treat patients while en route by helicopter to hospitals or at triage centers at disaster sites, such as earthquakes. References Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system. California Occupational Guide: Registered Nurses & Nurse Practitioners #29 Related Occupation: Physical Therapists #117, Occupational Therapists #143, Respiratory Therapists #454 Training: California State Training Inventory