Nurse Basics
What does "RN" stand for?
Registered Nurse
About how many nurses are there in the United States?
4 million
What’s the average number of steps a hospital nurse takes in a 12-hour shift?
About 16,000 steps (6-7 miles)
How many areas of nursing can a nurse work in?
Over 100
All nurses must go to medical school
True or False
False
Nurses spend the most time caring for patients in which setting?
Med/Surg hospital setting
Nurses make up the __________ portion of the healthcare workforce.
Largest
Nursing is the most trusted profession in the United States
True or False?
True
What is the name of the exam nurses must pass to become licensed in the U.S.?
NCLEX
Which vital sign tells you about a patient’s breathing?
Respiratory rate
What month is National Nurses Week celebrated?
May (around Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12)
What is the symbol of nursing?
An oil lamp
What's one major difference between an LPN and RN?
RNs have more education and responsibilities
How many Registered nurses are in the state of South Dakota?
19,944 as of Dec 2025
What percentage of nurses are women?
90%
What is the highest paid nurse?
CRNA
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Name one place other than a hospital where nurses can work
School nurse, Nursing home, clinics, Military, home health, insurance companies
What is the average salary of an RN
$89,000
If every nurse in the US stood shoulder to shoulder how many miles would they cover?
1300 miles from New York to Florida
How many additional nurses will South Dakota need in 2026
Over 3500