Like much of the rest of the country, Atlanta is suffering from an acute shortage of qualified nurses to fill the growing number of Atlanta nursing jobs. This shortage is a result of the aging population of existing nurses and a lack of capacity in the region's training centers. Most of these Atlanta nursing job openings are in hospitals and home care agencies. Atlanta's largest hospitals include: Grady Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta and Emory University Hospital.
A registered nurse (RN) is an individual who has graduated from a diploma school, associate degree or baccalaureate program, licensed to practice nursing. American nurses take a state nursing examination, known as the NCLEX-RN, which allows them to practice nursing in their home state, or in other compact states. The Nurse Practice Act of each state governs the scope of practice of registered nurses. Registered nurses oversee patient care performed by a licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational nurse, and nursing assistants. Registered nurses, known as first level nurses in the United Kingdom, must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.