There are countless career options out there to choose from, and one of these paths is within the field of medicine as a nurse. The idea of pursuing a career in nursing can be daunting for some people, as it does require a lot of hard work and dedication, especially when working in a fast-paced environment like a hospital. However, there are so many benefits to becoming a nurse that make it worth considering as a career option, and below are just some of the reasons why you might find it’s the right choice for you.
It’s Rewarding
It’s not always an easy job, and you must be able to work well as a part of a team and be a compassionate person to succeed as a nurse. Although it can get tough, nursing is one of the most rewarding jobs because you’re helping others through difficult times and supporting them as they recover from surgeries and illness. Not only are you there to support your patients and other medical staff, but you will also be helping the families and loved ones of patients cope and teaching them how they can best support patients once they return home.
Stability
One of the main things people think about when trying to choose a career is the long-term stability a role can offer. While there are plenty of exciting pursuits to follow, it’s important to feel secure in your job and know there is a low risk of you losing employment or struggling to find employment when applying for positions. One of the great things about nursing is that there will always be a demand for these specialist roles as people’s health and well-being will never be something that goes off trend or will be made redundant in years to come. Demand for nurses is has been increasing recently, so it’s the perfect time to start pursuing this career path. You can find out more about some nursing career trends that are in demand here.
Challenging
If you’re an individual who wants to be challenged in their career, rather than feeling as though they are coasting, you will certainly achieve that as a nurse. You will face different problems each day that you must overcome, such as dealing with new patients, tracking down medical records, supporting doctors and other medical staff, all while completing your usual daily duties. It’s certainly not a career for the faint-hearted, and there might be times when you’re feeling overwhelmed, but with the right support from your team and some determination, you will overcome these challenges, ready to move onto the next one.
Meet New People
While you will be part of a team as a nurse, there will also be occasions where you will be moved to work in another department or with a new team to support them for a temporary or permanent period. You will also be coming into contact with new patients every day; therefore, if you’re someone who likes to work with people and meet new faces, this could be an ideal job for you. It will help to keep things feeling new and different, which means there will never be a dull day at work. You might even find new life-long friends along the way!
Career Progression
Another great perk of a nursing career is that you can take many different paths once you become a registered nurse. For example, you could look at becoming a qualified FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) and provide primary care to families similar to how a physician might do. Although you will not be able to do all of the things a physician can, you will be trained and authorized to carry out physical exams, prescribe medication, and order diagnostic tests. You could also look into becoming a geriatrics nurse, a nurse-midwife, or a nurse manager. These are just a few examples of where you could take your career in nursing, and with so many paths to explore, it shouldn’t be difficult to find an area of expertise that interests you. Even if you don’t intend to further extend your education and get a master’s or doctoral degree to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), there are still plenty of paths which you can pursue and make improvements in your professional life as a registered nurse. Depending on the type of medical setting and facility you are employed in you can have a variety of duties. If you are interested in checking out the different roles as a registered nurse check the opportunities in rn prn jobs, nursebuff, and other industry-focused platforms online.
Personal Growth
A nursing role is so challenging and fast-paced that it can benefit your personal growth enormously. You will have to learn new skills and continue to develop them to make sure you’re giving the best care possible to patients. You will also need to grow stronger as a team member, as well as having the confidence to use your initiative and take on more responsibilities in your role. It’s also through meeting new people each day that you can learn more about yourself and others and how to cope better in d circumstances.
Good Salaries
While money shouldn’t be the reason, you take on a job, knowing that you’re earning enough to live comfortably is something that the majority of people look for when choosing a career. Where you live and practice as a nurse will impact your salary, as some states and cities pay higher than others. On average, a registered nurse in the United States can expect a salary of around $71,730. If you decide to become a specialist nurse or move up the ranks, naturally, your salary will increase, and with so many career progression opportunities for nurses, this is something most people can achieve.
Useful Knowledge
Finally, another benefit of pursuing a career in nursing is that you will gain so much useful knowledge that you can apply to your day to day life. Not only will you be proficient in first aid, advanced life support practices and health and well-being practices, but you will also develop better communication skills, organization skills, and how to manage your time better. All of these things can help you improve your lifestyle and make it a happier, healthier one to enjoy.
There are many career choices available to consider, whether you’re still in high school trying to think about what you want to do with your life or an adult who is ready to make a change and find something they’re passionate about. If you’re an individual who cares about others, loves a challenge, and wants to feel as though they are making a real difference, look into a nursing career and think about whether or not it could be the best path for you.
