If you are a nurse/RN, are you a registered nurse? Does RN always mean Registered Nurse?

Im getting the terms confused. Once you become a nurse, u are an RN. Does RN mean registered nurse? or is it something different?

RN = Registered Nurse.

An RN can be an RN in training but NOT Licensed. The License is separate and has to be paid for renewal every year or so from the State or Country you live in.

An RN is trained in 3 different ways. An Associates Degree, a Bachelor's Degree or a rare 3-year program called Diploma Program.

2 year = ADN = Associates Degree Nurse
3 year = DRN = Diploma Registered Nurse
4 year = BSN = Bachelors of Science in Nursing

There is no difference in the Nursing Skills of any of these degrees (when we take our Boards .. the test that we HAVE to pass to BE an RN, we all take the EXACT SAME TEST). What is different is the filler knowledge.. that additional stuff that makes a "rounded" degree. Core Classes.. and the rest of the "Stuff'.

You can be an RN and not allowed to work as an RN when you do not have a License. All you have to do is pay for the next couple years License fees to renew a license.. no retesting, etc.

You can go further in being an RN.. a Nurse Practitioner, a Midwife, A Masters degree, a PhD, etc. These are more specialties. But they all start off with the basic RN training.

I am an RN, so am intimately familiar with the Process.

yes it does

RN stands for "registered nurse".

there several kinds of nurses ( e.g. LPN )

RN is NOT interchangeable with LPN although both are "nurses".

RN is the top degree in Nursing. All others have decreased privileges

Becoming a nurse doesnt necessarily mean RN.

RN is a RN.

hope it settles your confusion.

There are LPN, licenced practicial nurses, and RN Registered nurses, and then RN nurses who also have their BS degrees.

RN means registered nurse. Means you graduated with your degree. Once you have your degree you have to get your licensed. LPN means Licensed Practical Nurse. Same as the RN in terms of getting your licensed, but a lower rank that an RN. The highest rank that a nurse can go to is Nurse Practitioner.