Registered nurse job description template

What a registered nurse does

Nursing job postings compete in one of the tightest labor markets in the country, and experienced nurses read them closely. They want the unit, the patient ratio, the shift pattern, and whether floating is expected, before they care about your mission statement. A description that leaves those out gets skimmed and skipped. This template puts the details nurses actually check first, and leaves room for your specialty.

Registered nurse job description template

Copy the description, replace everything in [brackets], and cut any line that isn't true for your job. The duties and requirements are a starting point written by HR practitioners, not a legal standard, so edit them to match the real work.

Registered nurse

Details
- Department: [Department]
- Reports to: [Manager title]
- Location: [City, State, or remote]
- Employment type: [Full-time, part-time, or seasonal]
- FLSA status: [Exempt or nonexempt]
- Pay range: [$X to $Y per year]

About [Company]
[Two or three sentences about what your company does, who it serves, and why people like working here.]

Job summary
We're hiring a registered nurse to assess, plan, and deliver safe, evidence-based care to patients on our [unit or specialty], working closely with physicians, nursing staff, and families.

What you'll do
- Assess patients' physical, emotional, and psychosocial status and document findings accurately.
- Develop and update individualized care plans with the care team.
- Administer medications and treatments, and monitor patient responses and side effects.
- Recognize changes in condition, escalate concerns, and respond to emergencies.
- Educate patients and families about conditions, medications, and discharge instructions.
- Delegate tasks to and supervise licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate.
- Coordinate with physicians, therapists, case managers, and pharmacy.
- Follow infection prevention, patient safety, and privacy policies.
- Take part in quality improvement and unit meetings.

What you'll need
- Active registered nurse license in [State], or a multistate license under the Nurse Licensure Compact.
- Graduation from an accredited nursing program (ADN or BSN).
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) required for [units].
- Ability to work [shift pattern], including weekends and holidays on rotation.

Nice to have
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
- One or more years of experience in [specialty].
- Specialty certification such as CCRN, CEN, or CMSRN.
- Charge or preceptor experience.

Skills
Clinical assessment, Medication safety, Critical thinking under pressure, Patient and family education, Teamwork and delegation, Clear documentation.

Physical demands and work environment
Hospital or clinical unit. Requires standing and walking for long periods, lifting and repositioning patients with assistive equipment, and exposure to infectious disease with protective equipment provided.

Pay and benefits
[$X to $Y per year], based on experience and location. [List benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plan match, paid time off, and training.]

Equal opportunity
[Company] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview, contact [name] at [email or phone].

How to customize it for your job

• State the patient ratio and shift length up front.
• Be specific about floating, on-call, and mandatory overtime policies.
• Mention sign-on bonuses, tuition help, and clinical ladders, which nurses compare across offers.
• Separate requirements for new graduates from those for experienced hires.

Then check it against the HRTally job description standard, our 10-point checklist, and run it through the inclusive language swap list. Both take about five minutes.

How much to pay a registered nurse

Half of US registered nurses earned more than $46.90 an hour in May 2025, and half earned less, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That national figure is a starting point, not a pay range. Pay for the same job can differ by 30 percent or more between metro areas, so check the BLS occupation profile for state and metro data before you set your range.

To convert between hourly and annual pay, use our salary to hourly calculator. If you hire in a state or city with a pay transparency law, the range must appear in the posting itself. Our pay transparency laws guide lists where, and our guide to salary bands explains how to set ranges you can defend.

Exempt status, licenses, and legal notes

FLSA status: Depends on duties. Job titles don't decide overtime eligibility. Duties and pay do. Our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees walks through each test, and the overtime calculator shows what a nonexempt employee is owed.

Nurses must hold an active license in the state where the patient is located. More than 40 states and territories have joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, which lets nurses with a multistate license practice across member states. Many hospital nurses are paid hourly and receive overtime even though nursing can meet the learned professional exemption; hospitals may also use the 8 and 80 overtime system allowed for healthcare under the FLSA. Verify licensure through Nursys or your state board before the start date.

This is general information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state and city, so confirm the current rules or talk to employment counsel before you rely on them.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same core questions and score answers against the same criteria. Structured interviews are fairer and predict job performance better than open conversation.

1. Tell me about a time you caught a change in a patient's condition early. What did you notice and what did you do?
2. How do you prioritize when three patients need you at once?
3. Describe a time you disagreed with an order. How did you handle it?
4. How do you make discharge teaching stick for a patient who is overwhelmed?

When you're ready to schedule, use our interview invitation email template. For a full hiring process, read the recruitment process guide.

Frequently asked questions