Nurses are the cornerstone of every medical setting, and their duties go beyond providing medical care. They are nurturers, morale boosters and caretakers. In addition to assisting patients with daily activities, they also lend a helping hand to doctors.
A prosperous profession in nursing offers a high chance for stability, growth and remuneration. While all medical vocations are forecasted to rise in the coming decade, nurses are expected to account for most of that growth.
If you are looking to pursue a career in nursing, then a healthy amount of research can aid you in making the best choice. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of five factors you should consider while deciding if a nursing career is for you.
1. Identify your temperament
We all have perceptions of how we will react in certain situations, but we also need to recognize that consistent pressure and stress can have a huge effect on our actions. Nursing in many ways demands a laid-back personality where you don’t get too high and don’t get too low. Meanwhile, work ethics also require nurses to prioritize their patients’ needs above their own.
To be a nurse, you need to not only have empathy, high levels of tolerance and an intense passion, but also a calm, easy-going temperament. If you have the drive and all these qualities, then nursing could be an ideal career for you.
2. Future job prospects
The COVID-19 era saw nurses on the frontline, fighting to save hundreds of lives. During this pandemic, the nursing profession was highlighted, and publicly, at least, the respect towards this profession had never been higher. Nursing has emerged as a successful career pathway offering several prospects for future progress.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing jobs are expected to increase by 9% from 2020 to 2030.
If you’re considering taking on this noble profession, it is essential to research the needs in your area. You may look for nursing programs that offer guaranteed job prospects in residential facilities and hospitals.
3. Possible career pathways
Nursing opens countless career pathways. With a nursing degree, you won’t just end up working at a hospital. The designed curriculum prepares you for careers in nursing administration, health policy making, academics, midwifery, legal nursing and consultancy.
You can also specialize in various nursing fields, such as pediatrics, psychiatry, rehabilitation, cardiology, gynecology and general medicine. Although there are lucrative prospects in every sector, it is up to you to choose the field you feel will be the most beneficial to you.
But you shouldn’t stop here. After you choose the career you want to pursue, you should also motivate yourself to find nursing resources and read about different topics to keep yourself up-to-date with changes and developments in a particular area. This hard work will help you become even more successful in the nursing field that you chose.
4. Options for online educational programs
Online education has become the new norm, with everything going virtual these days. If you cannot find a suitable on-campus program, you can go for online accelerated nursing programs. Online degrees provide fast-track learning at comparatively lower tuition costs. It also maximizes your time and monetary resources by offering flexible learning opportunities.
5. Opportunities for travel
If you enjoy traveling and are devoted to nursing, you can consider opportunities in travel nursing. These are typically short-term nursing contracts that allow you to travel globally. As it isn’t full-time employment, the hourly compensation fluctuates. This means that travel nurses make more money than registered nurses.
