How to Hire a Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses (RNs) are essential to any nursing team, and hiring the right talent will set your entire healthcare group up for success. Not only do RNs administer medical care, but they must also work in conjunction with doctors and manage relationships with patients. From hospitals to long-term care facilities, and even schools or telehealth organizations, most medical settings wouldn’t be able to function without RNs.

Within the nursing hierarchy, Registered Nurses fall under Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and above Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). As mentioned, RNs are able to administer medications and provide treatment to patients -- duties CNAs and LPNs are not permitted to perform. RNs may also observe patient symptoms and report back to physicians, but unlike Nurse Practitioners, they cannot diagnose conditions or prescribe medication.

There are different specialties for RNs, but most positions will have the same core responsibilities:

Assess patients
Record medical histories and symptoms
Administer medications and treatments
Help set up plans for care
Control safety and infection
Support and educate patients and their families
Work with doctors and other nurses

You can see why Registered Nurses are considered the backbone of the medical field; they meet with patients, doctors, and families every day to coordinate care. That makes hiring the best talent a necessity. So, what makes a great Registered Nurse?

Highest Education Level

Registered nurses offer the following education background

Bachelor's Degree (39.6%)

Associate's Degree (24.2%)

Master's Degree (16.2%)

Vocational Degree or Certification (9.6%)

High School or GED (6.8%)

Doctorate Degree (2.6%)

Some College (0.7%)

Some High School (0.3%)

Licensing and Certification

Registered nurses offer the following licenses and certifications
Qualifications / Skills

The following top skills are often required or desired to land a registered nurse position

Step-Down Care, NIH Stroke Scale, Progressive Care Unit, Medical Surgical, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Labor & Delivery, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Care Planning, Nursing Education, Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Telemetry, Care Management, Interventions, Emergency Care, Patient Care

Average Work Experience

Here's a breakdown of the years of experience offered by RNs

1-2 years (34.5%)

None (19.4%)

Less than 1 year (18.4%)

4-6 years (13.4%)

6-8 years (12.9%)

2-4 years (1.4%)

Qualifications to Look for When Hiring a Registered Nurse

When hiring an RN, your candidates need to have two core requirements: They must have obtained either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) exam.

Achieving the various RN specialty career titles, like Critical Care Registered Nurse, Surgical Assistant Registered Nurse, Home Care Registered Nurse, Emergency Registered Nurse, and more, may require further training or education, however.

Because RNs provide emotional and educational support for patients, in addition to medical care, they need to be empathetic and compassionate. They are relied on by many, and face difficult situations regularly, so RNs must also be able to work in high-stress environments.

RN Salary Data

To attract the best talent, you’ll have to offer competitive pay. The median annual Registered Nurse salary in the U.S. is $65,274, but that number could change depending on the candidate’s specialty. For example, a Surgical Assistant Registered Nurse can make around $99,000, and a Home Care Registered Nurse can make around $52,000.

United States

**Data source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

For location-specific salary details, visit our free Salary Research Tool.

Sample Registered Nurse Job Description

An appealing Registered Nurse job description is key to attracting top nursing talent. Make sure your job description contains a two to three word title (ideally, the position you’re hiring), and describes the job responsibilities, qualifications and skills for a registered nurse. Include information about your company culture (what it’s like to work there), and list any notable benefits and perks. Close out your posting with a clear and compelling call to action to convince candidates to apply. Use this sample job description for a Registered Nurse to get you started:

Registered Nurse (RN)

ABC Hospital is seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) to join our nursing staff to provide quality healthcare to our patients in Frederick, Maryland. You will work with physicians and staff to care for patients and be responsible for tasks such as creating and maintaining patient records, administering medication and monitoring for side effects, recording vital signs, and reporting symptoms and changes in patient conditions.

An Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is required, along with a completed NCLEX-RN exam. A professional and compassionate attitude, as well as effective communication skills and the ability to work under pressure, are keys to success in this role.

Job Responsibilities

Assessing patients and implementing or planning nursing care plans
Recording medical histories and symptoms
Administering medications or treatments and monitoring patients for side effects
Adjusting care plans based on patient responses
Assisting healthcare team members in diagnostic testing
Controlling safety and infection in patients
Supporting and educating patients and their families
Working alongside doctors and other nurses

Requirements & Qualifications

ASN or BSN degree
Successful passing of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
CPR Certification
Experience in hospital environment
Effective communication skills
A friendly yet professional attitude

Best Interview Questions to Ask a Registered Nurse

Asking these Registered Nurse interview questions along with the more traditional job interview questions will help you find the best fit for your nursing team:

Describe a time you went above and beyond for a patient.
Tell me about a situation when you dealt with an unhappy patient or family member.
How would you explain healthcare situations or treatments without using a lot of medical jargon?
What would you do if you didn’t know the answer to a patient’s question?
How have you handled miscommunication between you and a healthcare team member? Give a specific example.
Discuss an instance when you were under a lot of pressure. How did you handle it?
What is your idea of effective patient and family education?

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