Nursing is one of the noblest professions in existence. Seriously. Healing patients is the center of providing nursing care and the reason many nurses pursue this career path. The work nurses do enables them to change the lives of the people they serve by listening, showing compassion and providing the healing touch. While my tendency towards passing out at the sight of blood has lead me to take a different path in life, there are many reasons being a nurse is awesome and why I wish I were one. Here are 7.
1. Feel Good About the Work You Do
Whether it is assisting with a baby delivery or cleaning a patient’s wound, the work nurses do makes a difference in the lives of patients. Nurses help patients feel like they are human, not just someone to be poked and prodded. Nurses empower patients to take responsibility and manage their care and ease patients’ fear.
“Nurses empower patients…”
They also offer respect to patients. This makes a nurse feel good about the work they do, especially when they make a true difference in their patients’ lives.
2. Experience Career Stability
Nursing as a career is a stable choice of occupation. The healthcare industry added thousands of jobs over the last 10 years and is typically a consistent job provider, even during economic downturns. These types of roles have changed the fabric of the middle class and have opened up stable career options for many women and men.
3. Find Multiple Specialties Available
Nurses can choose the type of work they would like to do by selecting a specialty of interest. I’m sure you are familiar with most of them, but some specialties include:
- Cardiac
- Case management
- Critical care
- Dialysis
- Emergency room
- Geriatric
- Holistic
- Forensic
- Genetic
- Medical-surgical
- Mental health
- Neonatal
- Nursing informatics
- Obstetrics
- Oncology
- Wound care
- Pediatric
- Occupational health
- Orthopedic nursing
These choices offer an array of different activities nurses can choose. Aligning a choice with your preference and skill sets can help make your nursing career even more awesome.
4. Enjoy Numerous Opportunities for Advancement
Nursing has a number of opportunities for advancement. In addition to the clinical specialties I’ve listed above, nursing professionals can study to be an advanced practice nurse or a nurse practitioner. Additionally, nurses can decide to pursue a management role and get on a track to advance into a clinical director or nursing supervisor position.
5. Fill a Major Need for Nurses
Nursing is one of the fastest-growing areas of employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is slated to grow 16 percent between 2014-2024.
“nursing is slated to grow 16 percent…”
This is much faster than other sectors of the economy, and the demand is expected to further increase due to the retirement of the baby boomers. Because of this need, as a nurse you will have many occupational decisions at your discretion.
6. Receive Consistent Training and Development
Nursing is a career that is constantly changing due to the introduction of new scientific evidence and technology. This creates the need for additional training and development opportunities. Many of these opportunities are offered using online tools for programs. Nurses can pursue accreditation and continuing education hours that help them in their roles using these tools. Continuous learning broadens your views and your perspective in a way that enhances your career efficacy as a nurse.
7. Make a Decent Wage
Nursing jobs pay well. Nurses typically make on average $66,200 per year depending on their education and specialty.
“Nurses typically make on average $66,200 per year depending on their education and specialty.”
What’s more awesome than doing something you love AND making a solid living from it? I can’t think of much. The living nursing provides can help support you and your family, as well as your specialty coffee habit to keep you up and running during those 12 hour shifts. As nursing continues to grow and expand, wages will likely increase as well.
Nursing is a rewarding and generous career choice. From educational opportunities to stability, it really is an awesome choice for anyone looking for an exceptional career. And the altruistic feeling you will have in helping others is an added bonus.
Jennifer Landis is a writer and editor of Mindfulness Mama and MissRX.com. She loves learning and sharing about health and wellness, practicing yoga, and drinking copious amounts of tea.