A Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse who provides direct, bedside clinical care as a core member of the inpatient or outpatient nursing team. In this role, you'll assess patients, carry out physician orders, administer medications, execute nursing care plans, respond to clinical changes, and document every care interaction with the accuracy and specificity that keeps the next nurse informed and the patient safe.
The role reports to the Charge Nurse on duty and the Nurse Manager, and works daily alongside a team of RNs, LPNs, CNAs, physicians, hospitalists, and allied health professionals. Patient assignment varies by unit: acute care med-surg assignments typically run 4-6 patients, step-down units 3-4, and intensive care 1-2. You'll see a high variety of diagnoses, acuity levels, and care needs across each shift.
Success in this role is primarily about clinical accuracy — catching what needs to be caught, escalating what needs to be escalated, documenting what needs to be documented, and caring for patients in a way that preserves their dignity even when the shift is full. Staff Nurses who advance quickly in this environment are the ones who combine strong clinical instincts with consistent, reliable follow-through and a genuine willingness to support their peers.
Performance is measured by documentation completeness, medication accuracy, patient satisfaction scores, and peer and supervisor feedback during annual review.
Conduct patient assessments at the start of each shift and continuously throughout, identifying changes in clinical status and escalating concerns to the Charge Nurse or physician using SBAR format
Carry out physician orders accurately and within scope: medications, treatments, procedures, diagnostics, and activity restrictions — confirming order clarity before execution and documenting completion promptly
Administer medications using a minimum five-rights verification process, independently double-checking high-alert medications per facility policy and documenting administration in the MAR immediately
Develop and maintain individualized nursing care plans that reflect current patient status, physician orders, and nursing-identified problems — updating plans as patient condition evolves
Deliver patient and family education on diagnoses, medications, activity restrictions, discharge instructions, and warning signs requiring immediate medical attention, verifying understanding through teach-back
Collaborate in interdisciplinary rounds with physicians, case managers, pharmacists, and therapy staff to align care goals and remove discharge barriers
Delegate appropriate care tasks to CNAs and patient care technicians, maintaining supervisory accountability for all care delivered under your RN license
Document all clinical care, patient communications, assessments, and nursing interventions in the EHR before end of shift without gaps that compromise continuity
Participate in emergency response (rapid response team, code blue) when assigned or proximate, supporting the responding team with patient history and real-time clinical information
Maintain a safe patient environment: verify patient identity before every procedure, practice standard precautions consistently, and identify and report fall risks, skin integrity concerns, and equipment malfunctions
Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice (compact multi-state license accepted where applicable)
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an ACEN or CCNE-accredited program
Current BLS certification from AHA or Red Cross; ACLS required for telemetry, step-down, or ICU assignments
Ability to manage a patient assignment of 4-6 patients in acute care settings (or unit-specific ratios as applicable) with appropriate prioritization of care
Demonstrated EHR documentation skills — the ability to chart accurately, retrieve orders, and communicate through the electronic record without workflow gaps
Clear understanding of medication administration protocols, IV therapy fundamentals, and high-alert medication double-check requirements
Ability to work assigned shifts including evenings, nights, weekends, and rotating holidays per unit staffing requirements
Commitment to maintaining competency standards, completing required unit education, and staying current with clinical guidelines in the specialty area
BSN from an accredited nursing program (required or strongly preferred for facilities pursuing Magnet designation)
1+ year of clinical RN experience in a similar care setting (or new graduate orientation programs where specifically offered)
Specialty certification relevant to the unit: CMSRN for med-surg, PCCN for progressive care, CEN for emergency, CCRN for critical care, or equivalent
Preceptor training or willingness to serve as a student nurse clinical preceptor
Experience with Epic, Cerner, or Meditech EHR systems at the nursing documentation level
Bilingual proficiency aligned with the primary patient population served by the facility
Head-to-toe and focused patient assessment with accurate clinical documentation
Medication administration: oral, IV push, IV infusion, IM, subcutaneous, and topical routes; high-alert medication double-check protocols
IV access: peripheral IV insertion, maintenance, and assessment; saline flush and central line access per facility policy
Wound assessment and dressing changes: dry dressings, wet-to-dry, foam, hydrocolloid, and antimicrobial dressings
Vital signs interpretation including recognition of critical values requiring immediate escalation
Cardiac monitor interpretation at the rhythm recognition level (telemetry and step-down assignments)
EHR proficiency: nursing documentation, MAR reconciliation, order retrieval, and care plan updates
Nasogastric tube management, Foley catheter care, and specimen collection
Oxygen therapy administration: nasal cannula, simple mask, non-rebreather, high-flow nasal cannula setup
Code blue and rapid response team support: history presentation, task completion, and post-event documentation
Soft Skills:
Prioritization that holds up when four patients need something at the same time
Handoff communication that gives the next nurse exactly what they need to keep the patient safe — nothing more, nothing less
Professionalism with physicians that is respectful and assertive in the same sentence
Genuine compassion for patients at frightening, painful, and uncertain moments
Accountability for your own errors — the kind that prioritizes patient safety over self-protection
Teamwork that includes asking for help before you're overwhelmed, not after
Adaptability when acuity changes, assignments shift, or a colleague needs support mid-shift
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $81,220 for Registered Nurses. Staff Nurse compensation varies by unit type, geographic market, shift schedule, and years of experience.
|
Experience Level |
Annual Salary Range |
|
New Graduate RN (0-1 year) |
$58,000 – $72,000 |
|
Mid-Level Staff RN (2-5 years) |
$72,000 – $92,000 |
|
Senior Staff RN (6+ years, specialty) |
$88,000 – $120,000+ |
Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas:
San Jose, CA: $133,340
San Francisco, CA: $127,100
Vallejo, CA: $120,750
Seattle, WA: $102,000
Honolulu, HI: $97,000
Per diem and travel staff nurses typically earn 15-40% above permanent staff rates in the same market. Night and weekend differentials average $3-$8/hour depending on facility.
Benefits Package
Competitive Staff Nurse offers in 2026 typically include:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance with partial or full employer premium contribution
403(b) or 401(k) with employer match (typically 3-5%)
Paid time off: 15-22 days annually, increasing with tenure
Paid sick leave and FMLA eligibility
Specialty certification reimbursement and paid CE hours toward license renewal
Tuition reimbursement for BSN or graduate programs: $2,500-$10,000/year
Shift differentials for evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
New graduate nurse residency programs at most major health systems (12-month structured orientation)
Employee assistance programs including mental health counseling and financial coaching
Loan forgiveness eligibility at qualifying nonprofit health systems under PSLF
Q: What does a Staff Nurse do?
A: A Staff Nurse provides direct bedside nursing care as a core member of the inpatient or outpatient team. Responsibilities include patient assessment, care plan execution, medication administration, physician order implementation, patient education, documentation, and collaboration with interdisciplinary team members. The Staff Nurse is the primary clinical presence for their assigned patients throughout the shift.
Q: What qualifications do you need to be a Staff Nurse?
A: An ADN or BSN from an accredited program, a passing NCLEX-RN score, an active state RN license, and current BLS certification are the baseline requirements. Specific units add ACLS, PALS, or specialty certifications. Many health systems now require or strongly prefer BSN for staff nurse positions.
Q: How much does a Staff Nurse make?
A: The BLS reports a median annual wage of $81,220 for RNs. New graduates in California start at $72,000-$85,000 in many markets; experienced RNs in high-cost metro areas exceed $120,000. Per diem and travel rates push total annual earnings significantly higher for nurses who take flexible assignments.
Q: What is the difference between a Staff Nurse and a Charge Nurse?
A: A Staff Nurse focuses entirely on direct patient care within their assigned panel. A Charge Nurse carries a reduced assignment and adds shift-level supervisory accountability — coordinating patient flow, managing staffing in real time, and serving as first-line resource for the nursing team. Staff Nurses who demonstrate clinical excellence and leadership behaviors are the primary pipeline for Charge Nurse roles.
Q: What skills are required for a Staff Nurse?
A: Clinical essentials include patient assessment, medication administration, IV management, wound care, and EHR documentation. The skills that separate good staff nurses from great ones are the less visible ones: the ability to prioritize accurately under pressure, communicate with physicians confidently, support teammates without being asked, and own errors with transparency when they occur.
Q: How do you assess a Staff Nurse candidate?
A: Verify licensure first. In interviews, use clinical scenario questions specific to your unit — how they managed a patient with deteriorating vitals, how they handled a medication discrepancy, how they responded to a patient who refused treatment. Evaluate not just the answer but the reasoning process. Ask what clinical skill or knowledge area they're currently working to improve — the answer tells you a great deal about their self-awareness and growth mindset.