Registered Nurse Jobs in Washington, DC
Registered nurses in Washington are posting at about $42 to $65 an hour, and the biggest hiring cluster is the Irving Street campus shared by MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Children's National and the DC VA Medical Center. Here are the current RN openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get a DC license.
Current registered nurse Openings in Washington, DC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Registered Nurse Work in Washington
The District's hospital jobs are packed into a few miles of Northwest and Southeast. The Irving Street campus in Northwest holds the 912-bed MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Hospital, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital and the DC VA Medical Center, and nurses who work there can move between adult, pediatric, rehab and veterans care without changing commutes. GW University Hospital runs the city's Level I trauma center in Foggy Bottom, Sibley Memorial anchors upper Northwest for Johns Hopkins, and Howard University Hospital serves Georgia Avenue.
The newest demand is east of the river. Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center opened in April 2025 in Congress Heights and leaned on contract nurses in its first year before shifting to permanent hires, with more than 45,000 emergency visits in that year alone. Because DC requires pay ranges in job postings, RN listings here usually show the hourly band, and hospital postings ask for a DC license specifically.
Top Washington Employers Hiring Registered Nurses
These Washington hospitals and health systems are hiring registered nurses now:
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center - the 912-bed teaching hospital on Irving Street hires across specialties and runs a 12-month accredited nurse residency for new graduates.
- Children's National Hospital - the pediatric hospital on Michigan Avenue NW earned its fourth Magnet designation in 2025 and offers a new grad residency and nurse fellowships.
- George Washington University Hospital - the 395-bed Level I trauma center in Foggy Bottom recruits nurses directly through GW Health.
- Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center - the Ward 8 hospital posts full-time and part-time emergency RN roles that require a DC license plus BLS, ACLS and PALS.
- Sibley Memorial Hospital - the Johns Hopkins hospital in upper Northwest hires med/surg, ICU and case manager RNs with posted pay ranges.
- Kaiser Permanente - the Capitol Hill Medical Center hires outpatient nurses, including pediatric oncology and dialysis RNs.
Registered Nurse Salaries in Washington
- Entry level: about $42 to $46 per hour for nurses in their first year or two.
- Experienced: roughly $46 to $58 per hour for staff nurses with several years on a unit.
- Senior / specialty: $58 to $65 or more per hour for senior bedside, per diem and specialty nurses.
These are estimates drawn from posted employer ranges. Sibley lists full-time med/surg nurses at $41.99 to $65.08 an hour and per diem med/surg shifts at $57.90, and Kaiser has posted dialysis nurses at $45.43 to $58.89. Night and weekend differentials, per diem status, specialty certification and a BSN all push pay up.
How to Become a Registered Nurse in Washington
You need either an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in nursing, then a license from the DC Board of Nursing at DC Health. UDC Community College's Lamond-Riggs Campus on South Dakota Avenue NE offers a four-semester Associate of Applied Science in Nursing approved by the Board, and graduates can continue into UDC's RN-to-BSN. Catholic University's Conway School of Nursing in Brookland offers a four-year BSN and a 12-month accelerated BSN, and Georgetown's Berkley School of Nursing on Reservoir Road runs a 12-month accelerated BSN for career changers. After graduating, you apply to the Board for authorization to test, register for the NCLEX-RN for $200 and pass it. DC licenses now expire at the end of your birth month, and renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education every two years.
What the Job Involves
Registered nurses assess patients, give medications, start IVs, monitor vital signs and update care plans in the electronic health record. They coordinate with physicians and case managers, teach patients and families, and supervise nursing assistants. Hospital nurses usually work three 12-hour shifts a week, with nights, weekends and holidays in the rotation.
Skills Employers Look For
- An active DC RN license
- Current BLS, with ACLS, PALS or TNCC for emergency and critical care
- Electronic health record charting
- Clinical judgment and fast prioritization
- Clear patient and family teaching
- Teamwork across 12-hour and night shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Most new Washington nurses start in a residency, such as the 12-month program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center or the new grad residency at Children's National, then move into a specialty through a fellowship or bridge program. Experienced nurses step up to charge nurse, case manager or nursing coordinator, roles Sibley and other hospitals post regularly. A BSN opens leadership tracks, and graduate study leads to nurse practitioner and other advanced practice roles, which the DC Board of Nursing licenses separately.
Related Careers in Washington
For a wider look at medical work in the District, start here:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a DC license to work as a registered nurse in Washington?
Yes. RNs practicing in the District are licensed by the DC Board of Nursing at DC Health, and local hospital postings list a DC RN license as a requirement. You qualify by finishing an approved nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN.
Does a Maryland or Virginia compact license work in DC?
No. Maryland and Virginia belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact, but the District does not, so a multistate license from either state does not cover practice here.
How much do registered nurses make in Washington, DC?
Posted ranges put staff RNs at about $42 to $58 an hour, with senior and per diem nurses reaching $58 to $65 or more. Shift differentials and specialty certifications add to that, and DC requires employers to show pay ranges in their job postings.
How long does it take to become an RN in DC?
UDC Community College's associate degree in nursing takes four semesters once you are admitted, and Catholic University's traditional BSN takes four years. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, the accelerated BSN programs at Georgetown and Catholic University take about 12 months.
Do DC hospitals hire new graduate nurses?
Yes. MedStar Washington Hospital Center runs a 12-month accredited nurse residency, and Children's National offers a residency for new graduates. Some units, such as Sibley's med/surg floors, ask for a year of RN experience, so check each posting's minimums.
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