Why become a nurse? It’s a question many students face when considering this profession. If you were to ask a nurse what they love about the job, chances are you’d get a different answer from each of them.
There are many benefits to a career in nursing and many reasons that it is the right career for people searching for a profession that best suits them. Consider some reasons you will love being a nurse:
Why Choose Nursing?
Nursing is a vital service to humanity. As patient advocates, nurses safeguard patients’ interests when they are unable to do so for themselves, whether due to disease or a lack of health expertise. Most importantly, nurses save lives every day. They are vital to the overall health and well-being of the individuals they serve.
Top Reasons Why Being a Nurse is Rewarding
There are many benefits to choosing nursing as your rewarding career choice. If you are looking for reasons to be a nurse, this list might help you find them.
1.     Make a difference in people’s lives
Every day, nurses work with individuals from many walks of life, including patients, coworkers, and other health care professionals. Nurses undertake vital responsibilities on a regular basis, such as checking in on patients, reacting to crises, delivering prescriptions, and conducting testing. They frequently offer some of the most critical interactions that help patients make sense of healthcare needs.
2.    Always learning something new
Healthcare is complex, and methods are constantly changing. Lifelong learning provides nurses with the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities needed to overcome challenges that may arise while caring for patients.
Nurses impact healthcare best when they are up to speed on new treatments, rules, and procedures. It is a rewarding career choice that adds variety to the lives of nurses and a chance to always be learning.
3.    Each day is different
Although some day-to-day activities and duties do not change, patients do. That means nurses get more variety in their daily interactions than most professionals. They may also have the opportunity to work in different areas. For example, an ER nurse might work in urgent care for alternating days.
Even without changing departments, nurses get to deal with different issues daily and new personalities. If you are someone that enjoys diversity, then nursing may be the right job choice for you.
4.    Experience a sense of purpose
If you ask nurses why they enjoy their work, the ability to help others is a response you’ll get a lot. The nursing profession is a direct, hands-on way to serve people. As a nurse, the most essential aspect of your job is caring for patients, and you help patients get well every day you go to work.
Although nurses can make good money, often they choose this career because it gives them a chance to care for others. That sense of purpose is the most important motivating factor for them.
5.    Few industries offer this level of job security
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that nursing jobs will continue to grow over the next decade at a faster than average pace. They are constantly in demand in the United States and around the world.
Most new nurses can find work soon after passing their NCLEX. Illness and injuries are a fact of life; therefore, there will always be a need for nurses.
6.    Enjoy flexible schedules
Nursing is a 24 hour a day profession, meaning nurses often choose the schedule that best suits their lifestyle and their professional life choices. It may also mean you can work part-time or full-time in many work environments.
Some locations will even offer split or swing shifts for the nurse that needs to be home during certain hours each day. Some nurses work PRN, meaning they are on call and only come in when needed. They may fill in for nurses out on vacation or medical leave or to cover short shifts.
7.    Room for advancement
Nursing is a profession with many layers. Nurses can always choose to advance their roles. A nurse with a two-year degree can go to school to earn a bachelor’s degree (BSN) while still holding a job. Someone with a BSN can earn a master’s degree (MSN), an MSN can lead to a Doctor of Nursing, and there are always continuing education certifications to be had.
Nurses can choose their own specialty, too. In time, they can take on a leadership role or administrative position
8.    Earn a good salary
BLS shows that nurses currently make a median wage of over $75,000 a year with a BSN. That covers a range from over $53,000 to as much as $116,000 annually, depending on job level, location, and employer.
That number will go up in some areas and within some specialties, too. For example, a rural area in need of nurses may be willing to pay more or offer extended benefits, such as tuition assistance or help with paying off student loans.
BLS also breaks this down by practice. Nurses who work for government agencies, such as the Veteran’s Administration (VA), average around $84,490 a year. Inpatient nurses tend to make closer to the median at $76,000 annually. School nurses and those working in skilled care facilities may make a little less than the median wage.
9.    A choice of career paths
As a nurse, you get to make critical decisions that guide your career. For instance, you might earn your master’s degree to broaden your opportunities. You can also pick a specialty or choose to work in a specialized healthcare environment such as a nursing home, a doctor’s office, or an urgent care clinic. Some nurses even work on helicopters to provide emergency care.
For example, a nurse can specialize in obstetrics, surgery, cardiac care, or advanced life support. The list is regularly expanding to add even more diversity to this career option.
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10. Meet people from all backgrounds
In nursing, diversity is a term that includes veteran status, race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, physical needs, and personal health characteristics. These healthcare professionals meet new people every day from every race, cultural background, and religion. They can have a positive impact on all these lives.
The diversity doesn’t stop at patients, either; nurses work with medical professionals possessing a variety of specialties, jobs, and cultures. Cultivating an inclusive culture in healthcare is critical, and nurses play a vital role in that process.
11.  Be part of a passionate team
Quality healthcare is a team effort. A nurse is one of the most critical members of any care team. That’s true whether you work in a hospital, private practice, or as an at-home nurse at someone’s bedside.
The healthcare sector of today is based on a multidisciplinary approach to patient treatment. Nurses collaborate closely with physicians and specialists to deliver well-organized comprehensive care. That cooperation is essential for supporting effective communication and fostering excellent patient outcomes. Earning a nursing degree online can create a solid basis for working productively with others.
Nurses and their profession are well-regarded, and they serve as a vital contact between physicians and patients. Every scenario is unique, but the patient will frequently communicate with the nurse before or even rather than the doctor. Many nurses consider this to be one of the most personally fulfilling professions they can imagine. It is one of the primary reasons to be a nurse.
If you are looking for a career in healthcare, you might find you have a passion for nursing and all the benefits that come with it. If you are interested in learning more about earning your nursing degree online from Pacific College of Health and Science, visit admissions or contact us today.
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