From being teenagers, people are pressured to figure out what they want to do in life once they graduate high school, and have to base their college education around that choice or find a job that’s relevant to their plans. While some people might be lucky enough to know what they want to do with their life from a young age, a lot of people need more time to try different things and figure it out. If you are such an individual who is still trying to decide which career path to take, whether you’re still in high school or not, below are a few reasons why you should take the time to consider a career in nursing.
- Job Security
Having job security can help you to feel comfortable in your career choice, knowing that you aren’t likely to lose your job suddenly and that all your hard work during your career seems wasted. As there is such a high demand for nurses, and the healthcare sector is something that will always be needed, you can rest easy knowing your job as a nurse will be safe.
- Helping the Community
Do you want to feel as though you’re doing something meaningful in your career? If the answer is ‘yes’, this will certainly be true if you become a nurse. You will be actively giving back to your community by helping to support vulnerable people and help them to get better. You can provide some comfort to worried relatives and patients and teach people how to look after their health more effectively to stay out of the hospital and lead better lifestyles.
- It’s Challenging
If you’re an individual who likes to be pushed and isn’t interested in a monotonous career, nursing could be the right choice for you. In these roles, you will face challenges every day, and they will always be a bit different from the day before. This is a role that will push your personal growth. It will help you become a bit more thick-skinned, and you’ll also learn a lot about the human condition, as well as expanding on your medical knowledge throughout your career.
- Career Progression
There are many career progression opportunities once you become a qualified and licensed registered nurse. You can specialize in certain areas, like geriatric care or becoming a family nurse practitioner. You could even move into management roles and run the nursing team at your place of work. If you did want to advance your career, you would likely need to take further studies beyond your bachelor’s in nursing. Luckily, there are plenty of fantastic nursing masters programs that you can complete online, making it much easier to fit your learning around your work schedule.
- Various Working Environments
While there are plenty of opportunities to secure employment in a hospital for nurses, there are other working environments you can choose from, too. Smaller healthcare clinics are one option, or you could be a nurse in a retirement community or nursing home. You could even secure a position as a nurse in a school or at a university campus if you prefer. There are many different places of work to choose from as a nurse, which means finding somewhere you’re comfortable and happy to be an employee shouldn’t be too difficult.
- Good Salary
Of course, your salary as a nurse will depend on your level of experience, but it can also be affected by the town, city, and state where you work. On average, the starting salary for a registered nurse in the United States can be between $60,000 and $70,000 annually. This is a comfortable salary to start with, and you can earn more if you choose to advance your qualifications and move up the career ladder.
- Flexibility
Depending on the kind of healthcare environment you work in, a lot of nurses tend to work in shift patterns. This can be great if you’re looking for some flexibility with your working hours or would be interested in pursuing a career where your hours aren’t so regimented. If you prefer to work the night shift, you can volunteer to do that, or if you need to be home to pick up your kids from school, you could request earlier shifts.
There are many career paths to choose from, but if you’re still undecided, think about the points above and whether a career in nursing could be right for you.
