Why You Should Consider a Career in Nursing

Nursing is one of the most rewarding careers in the medical field. You get to change people’s lives, provide them with the care they need and make a positive impact in the communities you serve. If you are unsure about joining this exciting, rewarding and growing field, the following reasons should persuade you.

There is a Massive Nursing Shortage

There is a massive shortage of nurses right now which is driving up the demand for nurses all over the world. Additionally, a lot of medical bodies are reporting that this nursing shortage will keep getting worse over the years unless drastic actions are taken. This shortage is advantageous to you in several ways. First, the shortage has led to a very high demand for nurses. Because of this, it is a lot easier to find a job in nursing than it was a few decades ago. Second, this high demand for nurses has led to a gradual increase in nurses’ pay.

Flexibility

Nurses have a lot of flexibility in that they can work anywhere. Nurses can find work in big cities as well as in small towns. They can work in hospitals, clinics and healthcare institutions of various sizes. Nurses can also choose to become travel nurses, traveling around the world offering their services where there is sufficient demand and a shortage of nurses.

Telemedicine has also made it a lot easier for nurses to work away from hospital settings. This is especially advantageous in states where nurses can diagnose illnesses and conditions as well as give prescriptions without having to clock in at a hospital.

Nurses also have a lot of flexibility when it comes to working hours. Nurses can choose work hours that suit them best and the days that would work for them. Nurses can also choose to work extra shifts, holidays, and weekends if slots open up and they need to make some extra cash.

It Is a Great Second Career Option

Nursing has consistently been ranked as one of the most popular second career options. A lot of the people who consider it a great second career do so because of the great pay, career progression, and options as well as the ability to work during the holidays and weekends for higher pay.

Another reason why nursing is great as a second career is how easy it is to switch from the career you have to nursing by enrolling in an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Many of these programs, such as the accelerated BSN nursing programs offered by Elmhurst University, only require that you have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Because these programs are offered online, you can keep working while you complete them in 16 months.

Personal Satisfaction

Nurses are highly respected not only for the essential services they offer the communities they work in, but also because of the knowledge they have. Nurses are also a conduit between patients and doctors and, in many cases, patients end up interacting with their nurses much more than they do their doctors. Knowing how highly they are regarded as well as how much respect they command is a great source of personal satisfaction for a lot of nurses.

Lots of Career Options

There are very few career options that give you as much career flexibility and as many options as nursing provides. Nursing has over 100 specializations that you can get into once you earn the necessary certifications. Examples include oncology, pediatric nursing, geriatric nursing, administration and so much more.

Also, nurses do not have to work in a hospital setting. They can work in the legal system as legal consultants and sit on various boards where they get to advocate for fellow nurses and patients. Nurses can also work as professors and teachers, teaching and mentoring the next generation of nurses. In short, there are so many options where a nurse can use their training to work in almost any industry.

Upward Mobility

In addition to working in different industries and settings, nursing also gives you a lot of upward mobility. There are lots of opportunities to keep moving up in your career. Nurses can become administrators where they have nurses working under them. They can also run their own practices in select states and practices, thereby surpassing a rigid structure in the facilities they would otherwise work in.

Earning Potential

Although most nurses get into nursing so they can make a difference in their patients’ lives, good pay is always a welcome bonus. If you are switching to nursing to bolster your earning potential, you will find that you might be able to make a lot more in your nursing career than you are currently doing. One thing to note is that nurses in big cities are paid a lot more than nurses in smaller cities and towns. However, the competition is fierce for the limited number of positions in these larger cities, so do your research before applying to see if you have a chance of getting hired in a city or metropolitan hospital.

Work with Different Types of Patients

Nurses can work with the demographics they like to work with best. For example, if you are switching from teaching to nursing, you might be familiar with working with kids and a switch to pediatric nursing would be a great fit for you. If you love working with senior citizens, there are lots of opportunities for geriatric nurses in hospitals as well as nursing homes.

You can also choose to work with patients who are undergoing specific challenges. For example, you can work with patients struggling with substance abuse and addiction or those who need psychiatric care.

Nursing is a highly rewarding career option that is relatively easy to get into. There are lots of different specialties to consider which opens up your career in numerous ways. Nurses are also highly respected and they get to make a difference in the patients and communities they work with and serve. These are just a few reasons why you should consider becoming a nurse.