What Is an Office RN and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Office RNs work in a medical office or clinic setting, treating patients and assisting physicians. As an office registered nurse, you perform patient assessments, record vitals, and update patient records. You work with a doctor to provide education on procedures, answering questions and arranging for follow-ups visits. As an RN in a medical office, you tend to have the most face-to-face time with a patient. Your responsibilities include data entry, providing basic care, and helping patients understand and follow the doctor’s orders.

An office RN has the same required qualification as any registered nurse position. You must first attend school to become a nurse, earning an associate degree or a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), though exact requirements may vary from state to state. Once you have completed your nursing program, you must pass the NCLEX-RN examination, the standardized test used by nursing boards in every state. Upon passing, you apply for your license with the state, and then you may begin work as an RN.

Office RNs can work in a variety of outpatient facilities, most commonly in a private practice. You can also find office RN positions at nursing homes. Depending on the focus of your career, you can work with a variety of clients at various facilities. Locations that offer limited healthcare clinics, such as colleges, also employ office RNs for the basic check-ups and wellness checks. You may also transfer to a hospital setting if you find you prefer a faster-paced environment.

While hospital nurses have many of the same duties as an office RN, there are a few key differences. As a hospital nurse, you may work in a critical care position, alongside surgeons, and other high-pressure jobs. Depending on what area of a hospital you work in, you may help with triage in the emergency room, help run more extensive tests with advanced equipment, or assist physicians in surgery. You may also find yourself doing a lot of the same paperwork and basic assessments that office RNs do in private medical clinics.