How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN): A Step-by-Step Guide

Registered nurses (RNs) provide care to patients and assist other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, to ensure they have the support they need to do the best possible job. Demand for healthcare workers is growing. According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of healthcare professionals employed by the National Health Service (NHS) has increased year-over-year since 2013 [1]. 

If you want to enter an impactful healthcare field with a bright job outlook, consider a career as an RN. Learn what you need to do to become an RN, learn more about the profession, and explore details of pay and job outlook. Finally, learn about courses that can help you learn job-relevant skills today.

What is a registered nurse (RN)?

Registered nurses provide patient care and work alongside doctors and other medical professionals in healthcare settings. Some common tasks RNs perform include administering prescribed medications, inserting catheters, monitoring vital signs, creating patient care plans, and documenting patient information.

Where do nurses work?

As an RN, you can work in a variety of settings. Hospitals, health centres, hospices, adult care homes, nursing agencies, and schools are common employers of nurses. According to the NHS, you may initially choose to specialise in one of four areas of nursing: mental health, learning disability, adult, or children’s nursing. A wide range of roles exists within these areas, which serve as the basis for those who wish to practice at a more advanced level. 

Salary and job outlook

According to the National Careers Service, the average annual salary for a nurse ranges between £30,000 and £45,000 [1]. The NHS also reports an average annual earnings of £40,267 for nurses in England [2]. This exceeds the national median salary of £37,430 [3]. 

Like other healthcare professions, registered nurses can expect an increase in job openings over the next decade. The NHS saw an increase of 60,000 nurses between September 2019 and December 2023. It plans to add roughly 170,000 nurses to its workforce over the next 15 years. The organisation envisions nurses and similar roles in its systems to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4 percent in the future [2].

Benefits

In addition to a competitive average salary and a healthy job outlook, you might enjoy some of the other perks of a career as a registered nurse. Some of the other benefits you can expect by joining this big-hearted, in-demand field include:

• Work in shifts: As a nurse, you typically work eight-, 10-, or 12-hour shifts, depending on your employer. This schedule provides flexibility for your life.

• Job security: Hospitals and clinics are always hiring nurses. This need is projected to increase in the coming years.

• Flexibility: Nurses, like doctors, are needed nearly everywhere. While you may not be licensed or certified in other countries, you can do so. You can also explore working as a travel nurse, which can be lucrative.

• Active lifestyle: As a nurse, you’ll be on your feet often rather than sitting at a desk all day. If you prefer to stay active throughout your workday, this can be a major benefit of a career in nursing.

• Make a difference: Nursing is all about helping people. If you’re a people person, you might be drawn to this field of work where you'll be able to interact with patients daily.

How to become a registered nurse

RNs are highly trained healthcare professionals who help patients and ensure they receive the care they need. The path to becoming a registered nurse includes education, registration, and demonstrating good health and character.

You can expect to take the following path as you work towards joining this impactful healthcare career:

1. Complete an accredited nursing programme.

To qualify for your nursing certification, you'll need to first enroll in and complete a nursing programme at an approved education institution. Nursing programmes help you prepare for a career by providing you with theoretical and clinical practice. Courses cover chemistry, psychology, anatomy, physiology, and applied learning courses like how to care for wounds.

In the UK, you can qualify for nursing registration in two ways:

• Undergraduate nursing degree: Nursing degrees are a common way to qualify for a career as a nurse. Once you have decided to become a nurse, you choose between adult, children’s, mental health, and learning disability nursing. You can expect to spend at least three years on this programme. 

• Apprenticeship: The second option is a registered nurse degree apprenticeship. Although apprenticeships are employer-led, you will be released to study at an approved institution and experience a range of practice settings. Apprenticeships combine part-time work with university attendance and can take two to four years to complete, depending on your experience.

2. Register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council

Once you complete your coursework, you must register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council. You have six months from the end of your programme to apply, and you must pay a £120 registration fee with your application Once your registration is complete, you can apply for nursing jobs.  

Explore healthcare with Coursera

Becoming a registered nurse in the UK involves earning a degree or completing an apprenticeship followed by a registry with the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Learn more about a fulfilling and in-demand career as a registered nurse with courses from top universities. In the University of Pennsylvania's Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us, you'll explore the anatomy and physiology underlying the vital signs so that you can develop a systematic, integrated understanding of how the body functions.

In the University of Minnesota's Integrative Nursing Specialisation you'll identify ways to implement integrative nursing at work in alignment with research-based evidence and safety and quality considerations.