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What is a senior registered nurse and how to become one
A senior registered nurse is an experienced healthcare professional who has completed a nursing degree and earned their registration. They manage patient care, administer medications, and oversee the work of other nurses. Senior registered nurses also help develop care plans, provide education to patients, and advocate for patient needs. They work in healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and community health centers. They aim to provide patients with high-quality care and support.
What general advice would you give to a senior registered nurse?
Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.
Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University
Avg. Salary $74,261
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%
Asian 9.51%
Black or African American 11.49%
Hispanic or Latino 9.07%
Unknown 4.27%
White 65.24%
Genderfemale 87.74%
male 12.26%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a senior registered nurse?
Pros
High earning potential
Job security and stability
Variety of career paths within nursing
Flexibility in scheduling and work environments
Potential for work-life balance with proper time management
Cons
Exposure to illness and disease
Long shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Dealing with difficult patients, families, and colleagues
Limited opportunities for advancement in certain settings or specialties
Risk of workplace violence or injury.
Senior registered nurse career paths
Key steps to become a senior registered nurse
Explore senior registered nurse education requirements
Start to develop specific senior registered nurse skills
Skills Percentages Patients 14.40% Home Health 9.00% Acute Care 5.95% Care Coordination 5.53% Discharge Planning 5.42% Complete relevant senior registered nurse training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior registered 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 senior registered nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior registered nurse resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed senior registered nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed senior registered nurse in most of states. 43 states require senior registered 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 Registered Nurse (RN) Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse, Registered Arkansas Degree required Third-party exam required Registered Nurse (RN) California Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse, Registered Colorado Degree required Third-party exam required Registered Nurse Gain additional senior registered nurse certifications
More About CertificationsSenior registered 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 senior registered nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for senior registered nurses include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Pediatric Nursing (RN-BC).
Research senior registered nurse duties and responsibilities
- Code team member, triage, manage a team of 5 patients and 3 providers.
- Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
- Care for critically ill patients in the ICU.
- Provide triage, referrals, direct nursing care, and medication administration to incarcerate population.
Get senior registered nurse experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior registered nurse. The most common roles before becoming a senior registered nurse include registered nurse, staff nurse team lead and licensed practical nurse.Prepare your senior registered nurse resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior registered 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 senior registered 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 senior registered nurse resume templates
Build a professional senior registered 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 senior registered nurse resume.
Apply for senior registered nurse jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior registered nurse job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior registered nurse job
Are you a senior registered nurse?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average senior registered nurse salary
The average senior registered nurse salary in the United States is $74,261 per year or $36 per hour. Senior registered nurse salaries range between $49,000 and $111,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior registered nurses rate their job?
Senior registered nurse reviews
Caring for patients
Staffing ratios, unfairness, constant expectations. Healthcare is a business but doesn’t treat nurses like business employees
helping people and saving lives
the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live
The feeling I get when helping people.
Nursing isn’t what it was 12yrs ago when I started. It is all about “family centered care” and not what is actually best for the patient. Not only am I a nurse and caring for the patient, but I’m the house keeper, waitress, and coffee go getter. There is no more respect for nurses and their patients.
Updated January 8, 2025
