Your Hospital Nurse Career
Hospital Nursing: Your Guide to Jobs in the Hospital Setting
Your career opportunities as a nurse are endless. So, which path should you choose? Find answers by learning what it’s like working in hospital nursing. Uncover the hospital nurse jobs you’ve been searching for with CareerStaff.
What is a Hospital Nurse?
A hospital nurse is a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) who cares for patients within a hospital setting. While there are several types of hospital nurses, all work alongside other healthcare professionals to provide patients with comprehensive care.
What Does a Hospital Nurse Do?
Your duties as a hospital nurse can vary depending on your specialty and unit. As a whole, the primary responsibilities in a hospital setting often include:
- Monitoring vital signs, performing assessments, and documenting patient progress.
- Administering medications and treatments.
- Collaborating with care teams and assisting with medical procedures.
- Communicating with and educating patients and their families.
Hospital Nurse Jobs F.A.Q
Hospital nurses can earn a competitive salary, depending on their level of education, experience, and specialty. According to U.S. News & World Report, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $77,600 in 2021, ranging from $61,000-$97,000.
To get a nursing job at a hospital, you’ll need a nursing degree or diploma and be licensed as an RN or LPN in your state.
Hospitals may require additional certifications depending on the role, such as Basic Life Support or Advanced Cardiac Life Support. It’s also important to have relevant experience in a hospital setting.
You can find nursing jobs in a variety of units, such as:
● Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
● Emergency Room (ER)
● Labor and Delivery (L&D)
● Medical-Surgical Unit (Med-Surg)
● Operating Room (OR)
● Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)
● Step Down Units (SDUs)
With hospital nursing, you’ll have options. Within a hospital setting, there are various roles and specialties available, such as:
● Critical Care Nurse
● ER Nurse
● Cardiac Nurse
● Labor & Delivery Nurse
● Medical-Surgical Nurse
● OR Nurse
● Telemetry Nurse
● Mental Health Nurse
Each unit typically requires specific skills, experience, and certifications.
Hospital nursing can be a challenging yet rewarding career. It requires strong attention to detail, critical thinking skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
The level of difficulty highly depends on the hospital’s nurse-to-patient ratio. While each unit, hospital, and state has its own policy, the average ratio is 1:4 in medical-surgical units and 1:2 in ICUs.
In a hospital setting, each day brings a new experience to learn from. There are several benefits to hospital jobs, including:
● Competitive salaries and benefits packages.
● Experience with diverse patient populations and medical conditions.
● Networking with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
● Access to advanced technology and medical resources.
The hospital setting is a great place to grow your healthcare career. You can gain hands-on experience in your specialty, advance with leadership opportunities, and participate in continuing education.
Your Setting. Your Next Nursing Job.
Take Your Career to New Places with a Travel Nursing Assignment
Nurses who are open to travel nursing jobs can choose from assignments across the United States! At CareerStaff, we offer our travelers opportunities from coast to coast, along with great benefits including stipends for housing and travel. Learn more about traveling with CareerStaff here.
