What Is A Staff Nurse? | Career Path And Overview - Zippia

Overview

JobsSalaryResumeSkillsWhat They DoEducationCertificationsDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireBest CompaniesBest StatesBest CitiesRemote JobsJob OutlookCompareFAQsPart Time jobsEntry Level jobsFull Time jobsWork From Home jobsLocationsWhat is a staff nurse and how to become oneWritten by Zippia teamUpdated January 8, 20254 min readQuoted experts Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D., Kim Raines

A staff nurse provides direct patient care and assists physicians in medical procedures. They work in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Staff nurses are responsible for monitoring patient health, administering medication, and providing patient education. They also assist with diagnostic tests and procedures, record patient information, and communicate with patients and their families about their care. Staff nurses play a critical role in ensuring the well-being of their patients while providing care.

What general advice would you give to a staff 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.ScoreStaff NurseUS AverageSalary5.3

Avg. Salary $68,342

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity6.3Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.92%

Black or African American 11.83%

Hispanic or Latino 8.79%

Unknown 4.24%

White 65.77%

Gender

female 87.67%

male 12.33%

Age - 43Race

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 - 43Stress level10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance7.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a staff nurse?

Pros

• Job security due to the high demand for nurses

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization

• Ability to work in a variety of healthcare settings

• Flexibility in scheduling, with options for part-time and full-time work

Cons

• Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials

• Long, irregular work hours including nights, weekends, and holidays

• Dealing with difficult or uncooperative patients and families

• Reliance on technology that can malfunction or be unreliable

• Potential for workplace violence or aggression from patients or visitors

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Staff nurse career paths

Key steps to become a staff nurse

1. Explore staff nurse education requirements

   Most common staff nurse degrees

   Bachelor's

   44.0 %

   Associate

   39.8 %

   Diploma

   8.1 %Show more

2. Start to develop specific staff nurse skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Patients	28.01%
   BLS	8.85%
   CPR	5.76%
   Acls	4.51%
   Acute Care	4.37%

   Show more

3. Complete relevant staff nurse training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New staff 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 staff nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real staff nurse resumes.

4. Obtain the necessary licensing

   Becoming a licensed staff nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed staff nurse in most of states. 43 states require staff 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

   Show more

5. Gain additional staff nurse certifications

   Staff 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 staff nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

   The most common certifications for staff nurses include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC).

   More About Certifications

6. Research staff nurse duties and responsibilities

   • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
   • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
   • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
   • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.

7. Prepare your staff nurse resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your staff 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 staff 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 staff nurse resume templates

   Build a professional staff 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 staff nurse resume.Use this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this templateUse this template

8. Apply for staff nurse jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a staff nurse job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams

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Average staff nurse salary

The average staff nurse salary in the United States is $68,342 per year or $33 per hour. Staff nurse salaries range between $42,000 and $109,000 per year.

Average staff nurse salary$68,342 Yearly$32.86 hourlyMore staff nurse salary info

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How do staff nurses rate their job?

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Staff nurse reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022Pros

How employers and our patients or clients appreciate what we do for them

Cons

What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021Pros

Caring for patients

Cons

Staffing ratios, unfairness, constant expectations. Healthcare is a business but doesn’t treat nurses like business employees

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020Pros

helping people and saving lives

Cons

the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live

More ReviewsWorking as a staff nurse? Share your experience anonymously.Overall rating*Career growthWork/Life balancePay/SalaryPros of working as a Staff NurseCons of working as a Staff NurseSubmit anonymous review

Staff nurse FAQs

Travel Nurse vs. Staff Nurse

How long does it take to become a Staff Nurse?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Staff nurse jobs by state

• Staff nurse jobs in Alaska
• Staff nurse jobs in Alabama
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• Staff nurse jobs in District of Columbia
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• Staff nurse jobs in Montana
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• Staff nurse jobs in Puerto Rico
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• Staff nurse jobs in Utah
• Staff nurse jobs in Virginia
• Staff nurse jobs in Vermont
• Staff nurse jobs in Washington
• Staff nurse jobs in Wisconsin
• Staff nurse jobs in West Virginia
• Staff nurse jobs in Wyoming

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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