The Profession
Who They Are
Registered nurses (RNs) are highly educated professionals who help people maintain good health and/or recover from illness or injury. Nurses work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illnesses. Nursing professionals provide preventative and restorative health care to patients in a variety of settings.
What They Do
Responsibilities of an RN can include: administering therapies and medications; participating in surgical procedures; managing units; teaching, assessing and counseling patients; responding in emergencies; and supervising others.
A nurse who has their undergraduate degree (BSN) can return to school for an advanced degree and specialized training in:
- Adolescent Health
- Adult Health
- Children with Special Health Care Needs
- Family Health
- Gerontology
- Informatics
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Midwifery
- Nursing and Healthcare Systems Administration
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatric-Mental Health
- Public Health
- Women's Health
Where They Work
RNs can work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long term care facilities, private homes, business and industry, HMOs, public health agencies including rehabilitation and government, schools, and the armed forces.
Outlook
Changes in health care trends, an aging RN workforce, increases in job opportunities in many settings have increased the demand for more nurses in the workforce than ever before.
Preparing to Apply
Undergraduate students interested in completing a Masters of Nursing degree must complete the prerequisites of their desired program. At the U of M, these include chemistry, microbiology, growth and development, anatomy and physiology, pathology, psychology, nutrition, and statistics. Some programs may also require the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE, although many programs including the U of M MN program no longer require the GRE. Research, volunteering, related work experience, and leadership can also strengthen an application to an MN program.
U of M Programs
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Master of Nursing (MN)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Doctoral (PhD)
American Association of Colleges of Nursing - Find Accredited Nursing Programs in the US