20 Great Reasons to Become a Nurse
Did you know there were 3,080,100 nursing jobs recorded in 2020? As the population ages, the nursing industry will grow in the next ten years.
If you’re going to learn why you should become a registered nurse, keep reading.
In this nursing career guide, you’ll learn why some people choose to become a nurse. Nurses will enjoy career longevity and stability. You can work in many different institutions and specialize, as well.
If you’d like to learn more about this rewarding career, check out the article below.
1. Do You Love Helping Others?
Some pursue a nursing career because they love to help people and spend their time with patients. As a nurse, you will work with sickly or hurt patients and help them heal physically and emotionally.
Nurses will spend time with different people from all walks of life. You will provide support to people in a vulnerable time of their life. People who deal with life-threatening illnesses need to rely on nurses for help.
Sickly patients will get comforted and supported by nurses and doctors. You will also provide comfort to the patient’s family. When a mother gives birth to a child, she usually goes to the hospital and receives care from nurses.
Providing care for people is one of the main reasons why people seek out this career.
2. You Can Make a Positive Difference
People who choose to become a nurse will often positively impact different people’s lives. As you start a new shift, you will meet many other patients and varying illnesses.
A nurse will make a positive impact on the patient and their family. You will help the patient learn how to treat their disorder and how to cope emotionally.
Nurses in the field for years will enjoy this meaningful work. During the pandemic, nurses took on a huge challenge. They continued to head to work in the early days, when not much was known about Covid-19.
3. Keep Learning New and Transferable Skills
If you choose to nurse, you’ll continue taking ongoing schooling throughout your career. The skills you develop remain valuable to other areas of your life.
A nurse works with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to patients. You will learn how to work as a team. You’ll also develop communication skills to relay information to doctors and patients.
Nurses need to organize and plan their care steps for different patients.
Nurses need to be sympathetic to their families and patients during challenging times. You’ll do well as a nurse if you can adapt to these new challenges and solve problems.
4. You’ll Get a Competitive Salary
Nurses will often get competitive salaries and benefits depending on where they work. Most people pursue nursing because of its stable income and career. As you work, you will also enjoy an increased pay rate.
The pay rate will increase as you work longer at a job. If you move up in positions, you’ll enjoy a pay raise. You’ll enjoy some options to increase income by taking on the night shifts or working overtime.
5. What About the Benefits?
Along with your salary, you’ll get different benefits from your position. Most nurses will get leave allotment for public holidays and paid vacation time. Your hiring manager might also offer decent insurance coverage.
When you get hired by a hospital, you usually will receive a competitive salary and health package.
6. Apply to a Variety of Positions
People become attracted to nursing because of the potential to diversify and train. You could become a midwife, ER nurse, or staff nurse. Some people have a passion for mental health and become psychiatric nurses.
Work outside the hospital if you prefer. You can work at a residential home or clinic or even get a corporate medicine job.
If you find you don’t fit in at a hospital setting, work in a slower-paced environment.
You can find a clinical setting that suits your personality. Some people will prefer to work with older people, while others love to help children.
7. Become a Nurse Practitioner
Some nurses will go on to become a nurse practitioner. In this position you will earn more and almost have the same responsibilities as a doctor.
You can take a bachelor of nursing and study various topics as a nurse. Some people will continue their education and apply to become masters of nursing.
8. You Will Grow as a Person
People who pursue a nursing career will notice how they grow and change as an individual.
As you face different challenges in the clinic, you will learn how to solve problems. Learn how to communicate with people and comfort them during challenging times.
Some people will aim to work up to become senior staff nurses or advanced nurse practitioners.
The managerial roles aren’t as focused on clinical work with patients. But you will work on the floor, making sure everything’s organized. Consider this position if you love to motivate others and lead teams.
9. Pursue New Research Opportunities
People will also pivot into research. You can work as a researcher for different medical specialties and use your skills as a nurse. You can educate patients about important topics on their health.
People who love the medical field will work at universities and become a lecturer.
10. You’ll Work in a Trusted Field
The nursing industry has a lot of integrity and respect. Most Americans see nurses as some of the essential professions in their life. People who choose to become a nurse will be in a trusted professional field.
Nurses will play a pivotal role in families’ lives. They educate patients about their health and teach others how to care for sick or injured families. Nurses are excellent listeners, supporters, and educators.
During the pandemic, nurses faced one of the most challenging situations. Yet, they continued to show up and provide excellent care to needy patients.
11. You Can Work Outside of the Hospital
There’s a growing need for nurses. The opportunities are rising in different workplaces. You don’t have to only work at a hospital.
If you’d like to have many options, consider pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This degree will open many doors.
You can practice in both outpatient and inpatient settings. This allows you to further your education and pursue a specialty area. You could work at a private clinic or homeless shelter.
12. Careers in the Hospital
A bedside nurse with a BSN will be able to become an ER nurse. In the ER, you will provide treatment and care for patients with immediate needs since nurses work in hospitals, nursing homes, or care homes.
You could also work in hematology or oncology care. Patients with rare blood disorders, diseases, or cancer get treated by an oncologist nurse.
Some people prefer to work in transplant care. They help patients who either receive or donate an organ. You can become a pediatric nurse or even work in labor and delivery care for people who love kids.
Nephology care is where you provide treatment for patients with kidney disease.
13. Specialize in Your Preferred Area
Nursing careers often lead to further education and new job opportunities.
A nurse attorney will represent different medical professionals in a courtroom. You could become a legal nurse consultant if you want to provide medical advice in court cases.
A nurse entrepreneur will own healthcare business. An informatics nurse will improve and develop information technologies and communication. Nurse writers will work on educational materials, blogs, and articles.
Earning your BSN will often open many doors to different career opportunities. You can continue furthering your knowledge.
14. Pursue Further Education
With more education, you can pursue new opportunities to grow and advance in your career. After earning your BSN, you can get a Master of Science in Nursing or pursue an advanced practice role.
For example, some people will aim to become nurse practitioners. They have similar tasks as a doctor. The state you live in will have regulations about your practice.
A clinical nurse specialist will bring leadership to a practice setting. At the same time, a nurse anesthetist will deliver anesthesia.
A clinical nurse manager supervises the entire nursing staff on a particular unit.
15. Each Day Is Different
When you work in a hospital, you’ll never experience the same routine tasks. Each day, you’ll meet new patients with various ailments. Nurses draw on their medical background and have to problem solve.
If you want to work in a fast-paced environment, consider this career opportunity.
16. Flexible Work Schedule
Another benefit of nursing is that you’ll get to experience a flexible schedule. Some nurses will prefer to work three nights on and have four days off. Others will prefer a daytime shift.
17. Become a Travel Abroad Nurse
Some people will work in their city or town for a couple of years before pursuing opportunities abroad.
You can get an excellent salary with benefits while working abroad. Is there a country you’ve always wanted to visit? Check out their nursing jobs.
You could also have an easier time finding a new job if you and your family need to move states. Enjoy more job security.
18. Help Your Family and Friends
Having a nursing background will benefit you in many ways.
When your family or friend gets sick, you will have some insight to provide them with to help them recover. Nurses are constantly taking continuing education opportunities, and learning new treatment options.
Nurses also end up helping during emergencies on a plane or in unlikely places.
19. Volunteer in the Community
Some nurses will use their skills outside of a hospital or clinic setting. You could look at volunteering at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Research local charities and see how you can get involved.
You might want to go on a humanitarian project abroad to help others.
20. New Technological Advancements
There are now new opportunities in nursing because of technological developments.
Patient care can become improved by advancements. For example, telemedicine has grown since the pandemic. Patients can now have a virtual meeting with their doctor or nurse.
Nursing informatics has grown. It uses modern IT tools to gather patient data and treatment information for analysis. This information gathering will help drive new improvements in patient care.
You might have a passion for both research and nursing. Look at specializing in this area.
Find a Reputable College
If you’ve decided you’d like to pursue this healthcare profession, start researching colleges. You want to find a nursing program that has an excellent reputation.
Start attending orientations for different programs. Talk to some of the nursing professors. You should ask to speak to previous nursing students, and find out more about the program.
Gather Some Nursing Supplies
You might want to begin gathering some useful nursing supplies like scrubs, a first aid kit, and gloves. Check out Blue Sky Scrubs for some cheerful colors.
Will You Become a Nurse?
People often become a nurse because they love the medical field and hope to help others.
Students pursue a BSN and then further educate themselves and become a specialist. You can work in many different clinical settings after you become a nurse.
Find a reputable school where you can complete your training. The skills you get will often help you in your personal life.
Need more education or career guides like this one? Check out our blog today.
