Regional Nurses: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of regional nurses about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for regional nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of regional nurses expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for regional nurses.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Regional Nurses?
Do regional nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do regional nurses typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for regional nurses to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Regional Nurses
Jobs Postings for Regional Nurses By Education
- No Education Listed: 9,500 (70%)
- Master's degree: 2,306 (17%)
- Bachelor's degree: 831 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 563 (4%)
- High School or GED: 414 (3%)
No education was listed by most employers of regional nurses. According to job data, no education was required for 70% of positions. In 17% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 6% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Regional Nurses
Jobs Postings for Regional Nurses By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 774 (38%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,071 (52%)
- 4-6 Years: 164 (8%)
- 7-9 Years: 18 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 30 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for regional nurses. In 52% of job postings for Regional Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 38% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 8% of job postings for regional nurses.
What Kind of Degree Do Regional Nurses Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for regional nurses, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 4 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective regional nurses, and in 2023 a total of 255,710 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective regional nurses.
Top Degree Programs for Regional Nurses
Top 5 Degree Programs for Regional Nurses (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 250,462 |
| Pre-Nursing Studies. | 3,044 |
| Nurse Anesthetist. | 1,822 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant. | 382 |
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Degree Options for Regional Nurses
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Learn and practice the skills you need to play a pivotal role in creating progressive healthcare programs, systems and processes that result in high-quality, affordable care for everyone.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3-4
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Regional Nurses Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by regional nurses to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for regional nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Regional Nurses
Based on 12,677 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Regional Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesias | 8,883 | 70% |
| Anesthesiology | 5,708 | 45% |
| Nursing | 2,663 | 21% |
| Pre-Anesthetic Assessment | 2,337 | 18% |
| Surgery | 2,262 | 18% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Regional Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 1,820 | 14% |
| Communication | 1,737 | 14% |
| Leadership | 938 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 653 | 5% |
| Writing | 630 | 5% |
Based on 12,677 job postings related to regional nurses, anesthesias was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 70% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for anesthesiology, nursing, pre-anesthetic assessment, surgery and pediatrics were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for regional nurses, followed by communication, leadership, customer service, writing and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesias | 8,883 | 70% |
| Anesthesiology | 5,708 | 45% |
| Nursing | 2,663 | 21% |
| Pre-Anesthetic Assessment | 2,337 | 18% |
| Surgery | 2,262 | 18% |
| Pediatrics | 1,527 | 12% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 1,523 | 12% |
| Trauma Care | 1,397 | 11% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 1,246 | 10% |
| Airway Management | 1,242 | 10% |
| Operating Room (OR) | 1,239 | 10% |
| Orthopedics | 1,164 | 9% |
| Patient Safety | 1,125 | 9% |
| Urology | 1,111 | 9% |
| Pain Management | 1,010 | 8% |
| Surgical Procedures | 980 | 8% |
| Gynecology | 933 | 7% |
| General Surgery | 906 | 7% |
| Epidural Anesthesia | 867 | 7% |
| Endoscopy | 826 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 1,820 | 14% |
| Communication | 1,737 | 14% |
| Leadership | 938 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 653 | 5% |
| Writing | 630 | 5% |
| Research | 613 | 5% |
| Accountability | 571 | 5% |
| Teamwork | 491 | 4% |
| Computer Literacy | 466 | 4% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 459 | 4% |
| Scheduling | 424 | 3% |
| Teaching | 402 | 3% |
| Professionalism | 347 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 343 | 3% |
| Adaptability | 332 | 3% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 330 | 3% |
| Listening Skills | 298 | 2% |
| Detail Oriented | 281 | 2% |
| Quality Assurance | 279 | 2% |
| Decision Making | 268 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about regional nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for regional nurses.
What do regional nurses do?
How much do regional nurses make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.