Registered Nurse Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A registered nurse (RN) provides and coordinates patient care. RNs assess patients, give medications and treatments, watch for changes in condition, document care in the electronic health record, teach patients and families, and work with physicians and other clinicians on each patient's plan of care.
RNs work in hospitals, clinics, home health, long-term care, schools and telehealth, often in shifts that cover nights, weekends and holidays. In the US they hold a state license after passing the NCLEX-RN, and the Nurse Licensure Compact lets nurses in member states practice across them; in the UK they register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Most hospital roles also ask for current BLS.
Registered Nurse job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
Registered Nurse
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Facility] is hiring a registered nurse for our [unit, e.g. medical-surgical, ICU or emergency] unit. You'll provide safe, compassionate care to [patient population], working [shift pattern] with a supportive team of nurses, physicians and allied health staff.
What you'll do
- Assess patients, plan care and monitor changes in condition throughout the shift.
- Give medications and treatments safely, following [facility] protocols.
- Document assessments and care accurately in [Epic, Oracle Health (Cerner) or your EHR].
- Teach patients and families about conditions, medications and discharge plans.
- Work with physicians, therapists and case managers on each plan of care.
- Respond to emergencies and escalate deteriorating patients promptly.
- Delegate to and supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate.
What you'll bring
- An active RN license in [state], or a multistate compact license [or NMC registration in the UK].
- Current BLS certification [plus ACLS, PALS or NIHSS as the unit requires].
- [An associate or bachelor's degree] in nursing [BSN preferred].
- [X] years of RN experience in [specialty], or new graduates through our residency program.
- Sound clinical judgment and a constant eye on patient safety.
- Clear communication and teamwork under pressure.
Nice to have
- Specialty certification such as CCRN, CEN or MEDSURG-BC.
- Charting in [Epic].
- Precepting or charge nurse experience.
- Languages our patients speak.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Shift differentials, sign-on bonus, tuition reimbursement, continuing education allowance, retirement match]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: an application review by nurse recruiting, an interview with the unit manager, a peer interview or shadow shift, and credential verification.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
What real registered nurse job ads ask for
The skills named most often in the 412 newest registered nurse job ads we analyzed (out of 5,409 live postings), as the share of ads that mention each. A skill most ads name is a fair must-have; one few ads name belongs under nice-to-have.
- 1Patient care24%
- 2Documentation22%
- 3EHR17%
- 4Care planning16%
- 5Home health12%
- 6Medication administration10%
- 7HIPAA7%
- 8Patient assessment7%
Certifications mentioned most: Registered Nurse (42%), BLS (22%), LPN (13%), ACLS (8%). Degrees mentioned most: Bachelor's degree (17%), BSN (13%), Master's degree (8%).
From live job ads · computed November 2, 2026 · refreshed daily
Registered Nurse duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
New graduate RN
- Completes a residency or orientation alongside a preceptor.
- Builds confidence with assessments, medication passes and charting.
- Starts with a lighter patient assignment.
Experienced RN
- Manages a full patient assignment independently.
- Precepts new nurses and nursing students.
- Earns specialty certification and joins unit committees.
Senior RN or charge nurse
- Acts as charge nurse, coordinating staffing and patient flow on the shift.
- Leads quality and safety improvements on the unit.
- Supports the team with the most complex patients and families.
Registered Nurse career path
- New graduate RN
- Staff Nurse
- Charge Nurse or Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nurse Manager or Nurse Practitioner
Nurses qualify through an associate degree (ADN) or a bachelor's degree (BSN) in nursing, then pass the licensing exam. Careers branch widely from there: specialty certification, charge and management roles, advanced practice as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist after graduate study, teaching, and roles away from the bedside in informatics, case management, quality and health tech.
Advertised pay for registered nurse jobs
Median advertised base salary in Nurse job ads in the United States: $123,500 (middle half: $82,500–$147,500), from 795 job ads with a published salary in the last 90 days.
This is advertised pay, not total compensation: bonuses, commission, equity and benefits aren't included, and many ads publish no pay at all.
- Nurse salary in the United States · median $123,500, 795 ads
- Remote Nurse salary · median $137,200, 299 ads
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Registered Nurse job description FAQ
What does a registered nurse do?
Assesses patients, gives medications and treatments, monitors changes in condition, documents care, teaches patients and families, and coordinates with physicians and other clinicians. The specific duties depend on the unit and the setting.
What should a registered nurse job description include?
The unit and patient population, the shift pattern and hours, license and certification requirements, the experience level, staffing ratios where you can share them, and pay details including differentials. Nurses compare exactly these between employers.
Can new graduate nurses apply for RN jobs?
Many hospitals hire new graduates into residency or transition-to-practice programs with an extended orientation. If a role is open to new graduates, say so clearly and describe the support they'll get.