A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license.^[1] An RN's scope of practice is determined by legislation, and is regulated by a professional body or council.

Registered nurses are employed in a wide variety of professional settings, and often specialize in a field of practice.

They may be responsible for supervising care delivered by other healthcare workers, including student nurses, licensed practical nurses (except in Canada), unlicensed assistive personnel, and less-experienced RNs.

Registered nurses must usually meet a minimum practice hours requirement and undertake continuing education to maintain their license.^[2] Furthermore, there is often a requirement that an RN remain free from serious criminal convictions.^[3][4][5]

The registration of nurses by nursing councils or boards began in the early twentieth century.^[6] New Zealand registered the first nurse in 1901 with the establishment of the Nurses Registration Act.^[7] Nurses were required to complete three years of training and pass a state-administered examination. Registration ensured a degree of consistency in the education of new nurses, and the title was usually protected by law. After 1905 in California, for example, it became a misdemeanour to claim to be an RN without a certificate of registration.^[8]

Registration acts allowed authorities a degree of control over who was admitted to the profession.

Requirements varied by location, but often included a stipulation that the applicant must be "of good moral character"^[9] and must not have mental or physical conditions that rendered them unable to practice.^[10]

As nursing became more of an international profession, with RNs travelling to find work or improved working conditions and wages, some countries began implementing standardized language tests (notably the International English Language Testing System).^[11][12]

Nursing registration in Australia has been at a national level since 2010, since the inception of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), which forms part of the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Prior to 2010, Nursing registration in Australia was administered individually by each state and territory.

The title 'Registered Nurse' (also known in the state of Victoria as a 'Division 1 Nurse') is granted to a nurse who has successfully completed a board-approved course in the field of nursing, as outlined by education and registration standards defined by the NMBA.

Registered Nurses are also required to meet certain other standards to fulfil registration standards as outlined by the NMBA, and these can include continuing professional development, recency of practice, criminal history checks and competency in the English language.^[13]

Educational requirements for an entry-level Registered Nurse are at the level of bachelor's degree in Australia, and can range in two to four years in length with three years being the national average.

Some universities offer a two-year 'fast track' bachelor's degree, whereby a students study three years worth of coursework compressed in a two-year period.

This is made possible by reducing summer and winter semester breaks and utilising three semesters per year compared to two.^[14] Some universities also offer combined degrees which allow the graduate to exit the program with a Masters in Nursing, e.g.: Bachelor of Science/Master of Nursing, and these are generally offered over a four-year period.^[15]

Postgraduate nursing education is widespread in Australia and is encouraged by employing bodies such as state health services (e.g. New South Wales Health).

There are many varying courses and scholarships available which provide a bachelor-level Registered Nurse the opportunity to 'up-skill' and assume an extended scope of practice.

Such courses are offered at all levels of the post graduate spectrum and range from graduate certificate to master's degree and provide a theoretical framework for a bachelor level Registered nurse to take up an advanced practice position such as Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) and Nurse Practitioner (NP).

In all Canadian provinces except Quebec, newly registered nurses are required to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.^[16] This is either achieved through a four-year university (or collaborative) program or through a bridging program for registered practical nurses or licensed practical nurses. Some universities also offer compressed programs for applicants already holding a bachelor's degree in another field.

Prior to 2015, initial licensure as an RN required passing the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) offered by the Canadian Nurses Association.

As of 2015, for initial licensure, Canadian RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN exam offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

In Quebec, the 'Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec' (Quebec Order of Nurses) administers their own licensing exam for registration within the province.

In British Columbia, due to cuts to education funding made by the BC Liberal government, funding for foreign students in the clinical parts of nursing programs was eliminated, and as a consequence, all public institutions no longer admitted foreign students to their undergraduate nursing programs.

In Malaysia, nursing is regulated by the Ministry of Health Malaysia Nursing Division.^[17]

In the US, a registered nurse is a clinician who has completed at least an associate degree in nursing or a hospital-based diploma program.

The RN has successfully completed the NCLEX-RN examination for initial licensure. Other requirements vary by state. More information about the NCLEX-RN examination and specific state nursing boards is provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.^[18]

Associate degrees in nursing frequently take three years to complete because of the increased volume of undergraduate coursework related to the profession of nursing.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees include more thorough coursework in leadership and community health. Some employers, especially hospitals, may require a bachelor's degree for entry level positions.

Specialty certification is available through organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. After meeting the eligibility requirements and passing the appropriate specialty certification exam, the designation of Registered Nurse – Board Certified (RN-BC) credential is granted.

Registered Nurses can work in a variety of settings including hospitals, physician's offices, nursing homes, and home health care services.

The median pay for a registered nurse in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $68,450.00 per year with a bachelor's degree.^[19]

Nurses in the United States follow the Nurse Practice Act (NPA) which are laws that protect the public's health and welfare by outlining the safe practices of nursing.

All states and territories in the U.S. have a nurse practice act.

The rules and regulations may vary from state to state.

It is important to know the current laws governing nursing practices in their state.^[20]

In the Republic of India nursing is regulated by the Indian Nursing Council.^[21]

In Denmark, nurses are certified by the danish ministry of health.

It is also the ministry that keeps track of violations and can retract individual authorization.

As of 2011, there are 2.24 million registered nurses in China.^[22] In 2014, the United States had approximately 2,751,000 registered nurses^[19] and Canada had just over 250,000. In the US and Canada this works out to approximately eight nurses per 1,000 people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nursing jobs are projected to grow by 15% between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than the average overall rate. The growth rate in the United States is due to a number of reasons, including an increased interest in preventative care, an increase in chronic illnesses, and the demands of services required by the baby boom generation.^[19] The highest-paid registered nurses in the United States are in California. California cities often comprise the top five highest-paying metropolitan areas for registered nurses in the country.^[23]