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Why Is Nursing a Good Career Choice?
Blog/Why Is Nursing a Good Career Choice?
Whether entering the job market for the first time or changing career paths, you might wonder why being a nurse is considered such a versatile and highly respected field. Your chosen career significantly impacts almost every aspect of your life, and finding the right fit is crucial. If you're considering nursing as a career, it helps to understand the benefits.
With 3.1 million registered nurse (RN) positions already in the U.S. and plenty of opportunities for new nurses entering the industry, now is a great time for prospective nurses, and advancements in education and technology have made nursing more accessible. The first step to starting a nursing career is understanding why so many people choose it as their lifelong calling.
6 Reasons Why Nursing Is a Good Career
Nursing is a good career choice for many people, especially those who want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. The job market may keep changing, but the need for nursing remains constant. People will always need care, and nurses like you can continue to provide it. There are almost countless reasons to choose nursing, but here are a few of the most frequently mentioned.
1. Multiple Career and Travel Opportunities
You have access to many career advancement opportunities as a nurse. Depending on your goals, you can choose how you advance through the profession, and there are many types of nursing, both hands-on and hands-off. You can also move from nursing to other healthcare professions, including physician's assistant and nurse practitioner. The right nursing credentials allow you to drive your career in many directions. You could go back to school and earn another degree, continue to evolve in your current field or change departments.
Nurses are so in demand across the globe that a nursing career also allows you the opportunity to travel. You can be a travel nurse, adding a sense of adventure to your lifestyle and earning a great salary while exploring new places. You'll also have countless opportunities to engage in continuous professional development.
2. Chances to Specialize
Throughout your nursing career, you'll be exposed to many specializations. You can develop skills and expertise in areas that ignite your passion. For example, you can choose the institution you want to work in—maybe a prestigious teaching hospital, or a cutting-edge treatment center. You can also select the type of care you want to focus on, from emergency care and pediatrics to surgical nursing or even telemedicine. Some of the many specialties that nurses can choose from include:
Ambulatory care
Neonatal
Hematology
Obstetrics
Critical care
Pediatrics
Hospice
Psychiatry
Cardiology
Medical-surgical
Trauma
As you progress through your career, you can customize specialty options to advance your career and enhance your satisfaction.
3. Career and Life Flexibility
Nursing is an in-demand career, often with much flexibility. For example, there is a nationwide demand for healthcare workers, which makes it easier to move around the country. You can work shifts that suit you, take on overtime and boost your earning capacity. The opportunities are endless. Your expertise and training also allow you to take career breaks and return to work when you want to. You also have many opportunities to earn overtime pay by picking up extra shifts.
4. Job Security and a Stable Industry
Overall employment in healthcare occupations is expected to grow faster than many other jobs. Each year, there should be around 1.9 million openings in healthcare occupations due to employment growth and replacing retired individuals. As long as people need healthcare, they will need nurses. Even during times of economic instability, nurses are still in demand.
The more time you spend gaining experience and professional development, the more irreplaceable you become. Job security is few and far between unless you're in nursing and related healthcare professions.
5. Career Satisfaction
Choosing a career where you know you're making a difference is incredibly satisfying. Few other careers offer the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people's lives. Regardless of your specialty, you will get a great sense of purpose and satisfaction from your daily work. Nursing is also a well-respected and well-compensated career.
When you combine professional recognition, earning potential, satisfaction and advancement opportunities, it's easy to see how quickly nursing has become a fulfilling career path. When you're satisfied with your career, you'll enjoy other benefits, like reduced stress levels, positive workplace relationships and increased overall happiness.
6. Daily Variety and Adventure
Nurses work with people from different backgrounds daily, including patients and other healthcare professionals. As a nurse, you'll quickly learn that every day is different, especially if you like to tackle new challenges throughout your career. Nursing will keep you on your toes, and each specialty has its own way of keeping you learning, earning and engaged.
As a travel nurse, you can fuel your sense of adventure even more by exploring different locations and living environments. You'll travel to various locations and experience new places for months. With unique pay and benefits, you can design an exceptional lifestyle that piques your sense of adventure from your first healthcare interview and throughout the rest of your career.
How to Start Your Career as a Nurse
Before enjoying the above benefits, you need to become an RN. It's a competitive space, but a positive attitude and commitment to your studies go a long way. Take the following steps to start your career as a nurse:
Obtain your nursing degree:
To become an RN, you first need a degree from an accredited institution. The specific degree and length of the program depend on your career goals. Before choosing a program, consider where you want your career to go and what qualifications you need to get there.
Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN):
The NCLEX-RN is a nationwide exam. You must
, and when you pass, you must demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge to function as an RN. Applying for your license varies by state.
Look for a nursing job:
Once you have your nursing license, you can apply for work. Partner
specializing in your field for the best possible results.
Become a Trustaff Traveler and Connect to Your Next Adventure Today
If you're a current or aspiring healthcare professional, you need a recruitment partner who truly understands the unique needs of your career. Since 2002, Trustaff has used a personalized approach to become one of the most well-respected names in healthcare recruitment. Instead of merely filling positions, we use our expertise to help you grow in your career. Every one of our travelers receives the utmost support and opportunities, from priority access to thousands of jobs to guaranteed weekly hours.
As a Trustaff Traveler, you can decide when and where you want to work. You can broaden your horizons and ignite your sense of adventure, all with support from our dedicated team. Take the next step in your nursing career. Fill out a short application form today.
