Top Reasons to Choose a Career in Nursing

Top Reasons to Choose a Career in Nursing

If you desire to help ailing people or have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, then a career in nursing might be the best choice for you. With the increasing demand for nurses and high job growth rate, pursuing a career in nursing has consistently been a smart choice. Nursing is one of the most personally and professionally rewarding and fulfilling careers.

A nursing degree has gained immense popularity over the years, especially among the younger population, due to its numerous benefits. Not only does it offer financial and emotional rewards, but it also provides a great deal of flexibility and versatility. If you’re already a registered nurse, completing FNP MSN online programs can help prepare you for advanced care roles on a schedule that supports work-life balance. This way, you enjoy great job satisfaction and financial stability throughout your lifetime. Here are a few more reasons why you should pursue a career in nursing:

1. Location and Schedule Flexibility

One of the most appealing things about a nursing career is its flexibility. A career in nursing allows you to work in shifts, providing the convenience you need to achieve a work-life balance. As a nurse, you can work full-time, part-time, or as an agency. This can allow you to meet other essential obligations, such as social and family commitments.

You also can choose to work longer shifts and enjoy more days off work or opt for a structured schedule without weekend and night shifts. A nursing career allows you to work in diverse settings, including clinics, home care, and hospitals. This way, you can work in different places around the globe, allowing you to enjoy new cultures, experiences, and destinations.

2. Professional Growth

Another great reason to become a nurse is the plethora of career options available within the field. You can begin as a registered nurse and retire working as a family nurse practitioner or a different specialty. As a nurse, you can advance your career with further education, allowing you to get into specialty roles like congressional leaders, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), educators and researchers, independent entrepreneurs, and nurse administrators.

The opportunities are endless when it comes to growing professionally, which is a massive advantage of pursuing nursing as a career. This also means that you can work in medical-surgical units, operating rooms, medical offices, children’s hospitals, emergency departments, rural mobile clinics, hospice agencies, and other settings. Knowing that you don’t have to stay in one specialty area is an attractive advantage of choosing a nursing career.

3. High Demand for Nurses

According to a recent report, there is a growing shortage of nurses in the US to care for the increasing number of people with chronic conditions. This has increased the demand for registered nurses to fill the severe shortage. More data shows that RN employment rates are expected to grow by about nine percent by 2030.

Nurses with extensive experience in the workforce are some of the most sought-after professionals in the healthcare sector. That’s mainly because they’re considered to be dedicated to their roles, critical thinkers, and fast learners. As such, employers are always eager to hire them, which can be an added advantage when applying for a job. The best part is that you can advance your nursing education while you’re still earning. This allows you to advance your expertise and skills in the field, opening doors to better opportunities and higher pay.

4. Excellent Benefits

Besides professional growth, choosing a career in nursing can be financially rewarding with many benefits. The opportunity to increase your annual income is a great motivation to pursue a career in nursing. Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare centers usually offer great benefits to attract and retain qualified nurses. According to the BLS, a nurse’s median annual income in 2020 was about $75,330, which is approximately $56,310 more than the national average annual salary for other occupations.

Many institutions also offer nurses additional benefits, including bonus shifts incentives, overtime pay, shift differential, sign-on bonuses, and travel nursing perks. You’ll likely enjoy other favorable benefits as a nurse, including 401K matching incentives, medical coverage, reduced insurance rates, and student loan repayment programs. These benefits can increase your annual income by up to 20%.

Endnote:

Choosing a career in nursing can be a great choice if you’re passionate about caring for the most vulnerable people in society. It’s also a career option with numerous opportunities to specialize in your area of interest, travel, grow professionally, and gain new experiences. A nursing career allows you to increase your annual earnings and enjoy other benefits for financial stability.

Most importantly, you may want to choose a career in nursing since it’s one of the most respected and rewarding professions and allows you to impact other people’s lives.