Resource Nurse Career Overview

What Is a Resource Nurse?

Resource nurses move from unit to unit throughout their medical facility during a shift, helping nurses with patient assignments complete their direct care tasks. They pick up the slack by helping with admissions, discharges, and various other nursing responsibilities. Resource nurses can help prevent burnout in a medical facility by offering a helping hand when their fellow nurses most need it. Without their own patient assignment, a resource nurse’s day can be fast-paced and variable.

What Does a Resource Nurse Do?

Resource nurses must be prepared to assist with tasks from every nursing specialty, whether they’re helping out in the emergency room or on a medical-surgical unit. Some of their responsibilities may include:

• Patient assessment and education
• Monitoring vital signs
• Giving medications
• Assisting with patient mobility
• Discharge planning
• Drawing labs and starting IVs
• Cover nursing assignments for breaks
• Admitting new patients
• Transporting patients for tests

On a busy shift, a primary nurse may only have time to go through part of the admission process with their new patient, so they will call the resource nurse. Other times, they may have difficulty finding a vein for an IV line, but they know the resource nurse has a great track record for IV starts.

Resource nurses must feel comfortable practicing in every unit. These positions are most often filled with nurses who have critical care experience, such as in the ICU or ER. This experience gives them the confidence to move through the facility and assist in any unit, however needed.

Where Do Resource Nurses Work?

Resource nurses may work in any medical facility that provides patient care, including:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Assisted living residences
• Rehabilitation facilities

Any medical facility can benefit from resource nurses, who may work with patients of any age and with many types of diagnoses. Resource nurses typically work the same 12-hour shifts as other nurses in their facility and may be required to work nights and weekends on a rotation with other resource nurses.

Some travel nursing companies hire resource nurses for a 10 or 12-week contract. These nurses must be especially able to learn on their feet as they work in every unit of a new hospital or facility. Wherever they work, resource nurses stay on the move all shift long. They may sit briefly to chart a new IV or reposition a patient before they answer the next call or page.

How Do I Become a Resource Nurse?

Since resource nurses must have plenty of confidence in their practice, they are usually required to have a few years of bedside nursing experience first. To become a nurse, candidates must graduate with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred by many employers and can be completed in as little as 12 months for candidates with a prior bachelor’s degree. However, most BSN programs take about four years to complete.

Once a nursing student finishes their degree, they must pass a computer-based examination called the NCLEX-RN. After completing this step, a graduate nurse becomes a fully qualified registered nurse. To work as RNs, nurses must apply for RN licensure in their state. Each state’s requirements vary, but all will ask for proof of graduation and a passing NCLEX result.

While a specific specialty for resource nurses does not exist, employers may favor candidates with critical care specialty designations, such as the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certifications.

How Much Does a Resource Nurse Make Per Year?

The median pay for resource RNs in the U.S. is $94,480 annually ($45.42 per hour). The median pay represents the middle: half of RNs earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Resource nursing compensation can vary based on location, facility, years of experience, and certifications. For example, resource nurses working in hospital positions will likely earn more than those working in a nursing home.

Salaries can also vary based on geographic location. Cities and coasts generally pay RNs the most, but the cost of living in these locations can balance out the salary bump. By contrast, some Midwest and Southeastern states pay the lowest, but may also have a lower cost of living.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Resource Nurse?

Resource nurses enjoy the benefit of “coming to the rescue” throughout their shift. The nurses they assist are typically very thankful for the help, and often, resource nurses are an excellent resource with copious experience. This position also allows nurses to stay current in all areas of nursing practice, honing their expertise across many levels. Nurses who enjoy change and variety in their work may thrive as resource nurses. This position also paves the way for future leadership positions, as resource nurses see how each unit of their facility functions.

Are Resource Nurses in High Demand?

Employment opportunities for all nursing specialties are expected to grow by 6% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average. The U.S. medical system continues to be strained under a severe nursing shortage, with nurses quitting in record numbers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce predicts an average of 193,100 projected job openings yearly for RNs until 2032. As a result, resource nurses should see continued job opportunities for years to come.

Additional Resources About Becoming a Resource Nurse

To learn more about becoming a resource nurse, these additional resources may help:

• American Nurses Association
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• Association For Nursing Professional Development
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing
• JAMA Network
• Emergency Nurses Association
• National League for Nursing
• American Academy of Nursing