Registered Nurse Skills: What Employers Actually Look For
The BLS projects 6% growth for RNs through 2032, adding 177,000 positions, but the real story is persistent regional shortages that push travel nurse contracts to $4,000–$6,000 per week in shortage markets. California, Hawaii, and Washington remain the highest-paying states, with California RNs averaging over $130,000.
Top Registered Nurse Skills
★Patient Assessment★IV Placement★Medication Administration★Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner)★Critical ThinkingPatient EducationACLSTeam CollaborationDocumentationCare Planning
★ marks the most in-demand skills according to job posting frequency analysis
Certifications That Accelerate Hiring
🏆ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)Most Recognized
🏆PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
🏆CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse)
🏆CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse)
🏆OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse)
Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — increasingly required by hospitals
- NCLEX-RN examination — national licensure exam
- State nursing license in the state you plan to practice
- BLS (Basic Life Support) certification — required before clinical practice