Registered Nurse Jobs | How to Apply

Registered Nurse (RN) jobs are among the most in-demand careers in the world. Hospitals, clinics, and private healthcare centers hire nurses every day.

Registered Nurse Jobs
Registered Nurse Jobs

As a registered nurse, your role is to care for patients, give medication, monitor progress, and support families during treatment.

In 2025, the demand for qualified RNs will keep rising due to more hospitals, ageing populations, and new healthcare technology.

Average RN Salary (U.S., 2025): around $98,000 per year, or about $47 per hour, depending on your location, specialty, and experience.

What are Registered Nurse Jobs?

At its core, a registered nurse job is a position held by a professional who has met licensing requirements (such as passing the NCLEX-RN in the U.S.) to provide nursing care.

RNs perform a broad range of functions, including assessing patients, administering medications and treatments, coordinating care plans, educating patients and families, supervising other staff, and often working as part of an interdisciplinary team.

These jobs vary large­ly depending on the setting (hospital, clinic, home health, telehealth, travel contract), specialty (med-surg, ICU, paediatrics, geriatrics, etc.), time-frame (full-time, part-time, contract) and geography.

Why RN Jobs Are in Demand in 2025

There are several strong drivers behind the demand for registered nurse roles:

  • The workforce of RNs is projected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations, adding nearly 195,000 job openings each year.
  • There is a looming shortage of RNs in many states. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports the U.S. is projected to experience a shortage of full-time RNs (78,610 by 2025) due to retirements and workforce exits.
  • Changing healthcare delivery models: More outpatient care, home-health, telehealth and community settings. This creates new types of registered nurse jobs beyond traditional hospital roles.
  • Higher compensation and retention efforts: Many employers are increasing pay and bonuses to attract and keep RNs. A median pay increase of ~4% was budgeted for 2025 in many medical group settings.

Salary & Compensation for Registered Nurse Jobs

Here’s a summary of salary expectations and factors that affect pay for RN roles:

  • According to the 2025 salary guide, RNs earn on average about US $98,430 per year (≈ US $47.32 per hour) in the U.S. Data is based on 2024-25 BLS figures.
  • Entry-level RNs (less than one year of experience) may earn around US $60,000-70,000 annually in many regions. Experienced RNs with 10+ years and/or in higher cost-of-living states can exceed US $100,000.
  • Geographic variation is large: For example, California averages ~$137,690 for RNs; Texas averages ~$90,210.
  • Pay increases: In 2025, many governments budgeted higher incremental raises (~4%) given nursing shortages.
  • Settings matter: Hospitals generally pay more than outpatient clinics or home health, but shifts (night/weekend) or travel roles can add premium pay.

Types of Registered Nurse Jobs (and How to Search)

Here we’ll explore the different types of RN jobs—each aligned with one of the ranking keywords—and what you should consider when targeting them.

Registered Nurse Jobs (General)

This is the broad umbrella: any job for a licensed RN. Searches using this keyword will yield hospital staff RN jobs, clinic RN roles, home health, etc.

What to look for:

  • Job title variations: “Staff RN”, “RN II”, “Clinical RN”, “Charge RN”
  • Educational/licensing requirements (often BSN preferred)
  • Specialty or unit identified (e.g., med-surg, ICU)
  • Requirements about shift (days, nights) and overtime/holiday pay

Tip: Use job boards and filter by state, zip code, specialty and shift. Craft a résumé that highlights your clinical experience, RN license, unit experience and any certifications (e.g., ACLS, CCRN).

Registered Nurse Jobs Near Me

If location-specific roles are your priority, you’ll focus on local hospitals, clinics, home-health agencies and outpatient centres.

Why this is useful:

  • Minimises relocation cost/time
  • Likely better for those settled in a region (e.g., you live in Port Harcourt and maybe want nearby roles either locally/internationally)
  • Local employers may prioritise RNs familiar with regional regulations and patient population

How to search effectively:

  • Use filters on job-boards for your city/state (“near Port Harcourt” or if U.S.-based “near Chicago, IL”)
  • Check hospitals’ career pages directly
  • Connect with local nurse staffing agencies

Tip: Emphasise your local licensure (or your willingness and ability to obtain it), any local patient-population experience (e.g., rural, underserved communities) and flexibility (shifts, weekends) since local roles often value “can start quickly”.

Remote Registered Nurse Jobs / “Registered Nurse Jobs to Work from Home” / “Registered Nurse Jobs Working from Home”

Remote or work-from-home RN roles are increasingly common thanks to telehealth, triage call middles, operation review, case management, and remote patient monitoring.

Key things to know:

  • These roles often require different skills: telehealth technology comfort, written communication skills, and sometimes a home-office set-up
  • Some require initial in-person training before full remote transition
  • Hours may align with patient needs across time zones (so flexibility helps)
  • Less of the hands-on patient care you might do in a hospital, more coordination, documentation, and remote assessments

Good tip for application: If you target remote RN roles, emphasise any experience with telehealth, remote monitoring, case management, strong documentation and digital communication tools.

Travel Registered Nurse Jobs

Travel nursing involves taking contract positions (often 13-week or 26-week) at different locations, often with higher pay, housing, or stipend benefits.

Why do many RNs pursue travel jobs?

  • Higher compensation (often due to demand and contract premiums)
  • Opportunity to travel, work in different units/hospitals
  • Flexibility to choose assignments, set schedules

Things to consider:

  • You may need 1–2 years of acute-care experience before many travel roles
  • You’ll need state licensure in the state you’re travelling to (or a compact nursing licence)
  • Housing, travel stipends, and tax implications vary by contract

Tip: When job-searching for travel RN assignments, network with travel staffing agencies, build a résumé accenting versatility across units, highlight quick onboarding ability and flexibility.

New Graduate Registered Nurse Jobs

If you are newly licensed (or soon to be licensed) as an RN, there are programs tailored for you.

What to look for in new graduate programs:

  • RN residency or transition-to-practice programmes
  • Mentorship/support, structured orientation
  • Locations often in hospitals or large health systems that recruit fresh grads

Why this matters: Fresh grads may not have years of experience—and employers know that—so these programs bridge the gap.

Tip: Highlight your clinical rotations, capstone or any internship/externship experience. Emphasise your licensure status (pending or obtained) and readiness to commit to shift work and learning.

Part-Time Registered Nurse Jobs Near Me

Part-time RN roles are ideal for those balancing other commitments (family, school, another job) or preferring fewer shifts.

Where you’ll find them:

  • Home health agencies
  • Clinics or outpatient centres (e.g., part-time evenings)
  • Schools or occupational health settings
  • Hospitals may have “PRN” (as-needed) roles

What you should weigh: Flexibility, ability to quickly adapt when called in, travel time if the site is off-hours, and strong reliability.

Best Job Boards and Staffing Agencies for Registered Nurse Jobs

Here’s where to find quality RN job listings:

CategoryRecommended Platforms
Near Me JobsNurse.com, Indeed, Incredible Health
Remote JobsNurse Fern, FlexJobs, USAJobs.gov
Travel JobsAya Healthcare, Trustaff, Medical Solutions
Part-Time JobsVivian Health, NurseJobBoard.com

 

How to Make Your Application Competitive

Given the high demand but also increasing standards, here are actionable tips to stand out in the job search for registered nurse jobs:

  1. Hold or be pursuing a BSN — Many employers now prefer BSN-prepared RNs.
  2. Obtain certifications — For example, ACLS, PALS, CCRN, OCN, depending on the unit. This helps for higher pay and speciality roles.
  3. Highlight technology and telehealth skills — Especially for remote or hybrid RN jobs.
  4. Emphasise flexibility — Nights, weekends, travel assignments, as well as willingness to relocate.
  5. Tailor résumé to the role type — If you’re applying for travel RN jobs, highlight short-term flexibility and multiple units. For remote roles, stress documentation, triage, and communication. For part-time, near-me roles, look for local licensure, reliability, and availability.
  6. Licensure portability matters — If you plan to travel or move states, check for compacts (e.g., Nurse Licensure Compact in the U.S.) or local equivalency.
  7. Build a professional online presence — Many recruiters check LinkedIn, professional registration, and your résumé should be error-free and clean.
  8. Prepare for interviews about burnout and retention — With nursing shortages and staff turnover, employers want RNs who are resilient and will stay. Be ready to discuss how you manage stress, multitask and balance care quality with workload.

FAQ

How do I find “registered nurse jobs near me”?

Search healthcare provider websites in your area, job boards with filters by zip code/radius, and contact local staffing agencies. Also check for “PRN” or part-time roles if you want flexibility.

Are “remote registered nurse jobs” legitimate?

Yes. Telehealth, remote triage, case-management, application review and remote monitoring positions exist. Ensure you meet licensure requirements, have reliable tech/home-office and check the employer’s reputation.

What’s the difference between “travel registered nurse jobs” and regular RN jobs?

Travel jobs are contract-based, often for 8-13 weeks or more, and located in different cities or states. They often pay more, include housing or travel stipend, and require flexibility and adaptability.

What does “new graduate registered nurse jobs” mean?

Jobs or programmes designed for RNs who have recently (or soon will) passed their licensing exam and have limited clinical experience. These roles often include structured onboarding and mentorship.

Can I work part-time as an RN and still find good jobs?

Yes—many roles are part-time, especially in clinics, outpatient settings, home health, or as “PRN” staff in hospitals. Use keywords like “part-time registered nurse jobs near me” when searching.

How much can I expect to make as an RN in 2025?

Average salary around US $98,430 per year in the U.S. (≈ US $47/hour) for full-time RNs, with variation depending on state, experience, and speciality. Entry-level may be lower (~US $60k-70k), while high-cost states or speciality roles may exceed US $100k+.

Do I need a BSN to get RN jobs?

Many employers prefer BSN-prepared RNs; some require a BSN within a certain timeframe for new hires. Having a BSN improves competitiveness.

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