How To Become A Registered Field Nurse: What It Is and Career Path

What is a registered field nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,

Kim Raines

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a registered field nurse. For example, did you know that they make an average of $37.62 an hour? That's $78,249 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 195,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a registered field nurse?

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.

ScoreRegistered Field NurseUS Average

Salary

6.1

Avg. Salary $78,249

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.90%

Black or African American 12.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.78%

Unknown 4.24%

White 65.60%

Gender

female 92.12%

male 7.88%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a registered field nurse

Explore registered field nurse education requirements

Most common registered field nurse degrees

Associate

55.2 %

Bachelor's

34.1 %

Diploma

4.6 %

Start to develop specific registered field nurse skills

Skills	Percentages
Home Health	32.75%
Patients	26.84%
HIPAA	5.89%
Quality Care	4.54%
Allergies	2.63%

Complete relevant registered field nurse training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New registered field nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a registered field nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real registered field nurse resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed registered field nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed registered field nurse in most of states. 43 states require registered field nurses to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	Degree required	State exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Licensed Practical
Arkansas	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Vocational Nurse
Colorado	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse

Gain additional registered field nurse certifications

Registered field nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific registered field nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for registered field nurses include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC).

More About Certifications

Research registered field nurse duties and responsibilities

Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
Collaborate with company management, primary care provider and patients relatives to maintain a high level of individualize effective care.
Deliver care with compassion and empathy.
Maintain accurate documentation as required by KY Medicaid.

Prepare your registered field nurse resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your registered field nurse resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a registered field nurse resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable registered field nurse resume templates

Build a professional registered field nurse resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your registered field nurse resume.