Is a Nursing Career Right for You?
Nurses care for patients, promote good health, and help prevent illness in hospitals, schools, and long-term care facilities. These professionals assess and record symptoms, collaborate with doctors to develop treatment plans, conduct exams, administer medications, and monitor patient recovery. Their work is crucial to helping patients recover from illnesses and lead healthy lives. If you’re interested in making a difference in the lives of others and working on the front lines of health care, a career in nursing might be for you.
Why Nursing Is a Good Career
One of the best things about being a nurse is the job security—these professionals will always be in demand. Let’s look at some other reasons why nursing is a promising career:
Nurses make a difference. Nurses provide hope, support patients and families with complex diagnoses, help celebrate good news, and more. Beyond their clinical roles, many nurses also volunteer in their communities and at health fairs, travel for events, and fundraise for charitable causes. Knowing you’ve helped others is a powerful aspect of the profession.
Nurses do exciting work. In the world of the nurse, no day is exactly the same. Nursing is versatile, and nurses can learn new skills and constantly apply them to changing environments.
You can choose your specialty. There are more than 100 nursing specialties to choose from! From flight nurse to NICU nurse, you can choose any specialty you want. The best part is that you can even move from one specialty to another to enhance your career.
Nurses can get excellent benefits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $86,070. This is well above the median annual wage for all occupations nationwide. Plus, nurses get tons of great benefits like paid sick time, paid family leave, health and life insurance, child care, retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement, and more.
You can earn your nursing degree online. Online degree programs provide flexibility, allowing students to balance their studies with work, family, or other personal commitments. This is extremely helpful if you’re already working in health care. These programs can also put money back in your pocket.
Do You Share the Characteristics of a Nurse?
Nursing is a critically important and rewarding career. But it takes the right kind of person to balance medical knowledge with good bedside manner. If a career as a nurse sounds appealing, review the following common characteristics of nurses to discover how many you share:
Communication Skills
Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for nurses. Clear communication builds trust, fosters collaboration with other health care providers, and helps patients make informed decisions about their care. By sharing accurate information, nurses ensure patient care quality, safety, and efficiency.
Empathy and Compassion
Empathy and compassion are essential to being a nurse. Empathy allows nurses to adopt a patient-centered approach by understanding and relating to their experiences, and compassion pushes nurses to be kind and patient. These traits inspire trust, promote emotional and psychological well-being, and reduce patient anxiety.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking allows nurses to solve problems and adapt in a fast-paced environment where they often work under pressure. By applying evidence-based practices, nurses can navigate challenges confidently and provide thorough, patient-centered care.
Attention to Detail
Good time management and the ability to balance priorities help nurses pay attention to detail, allowing them to identify signs of complications, prevent errors, and provide personalized care. This skill promotes efficiency, reduces risks, and improves overall health care quality.
Willingness to Learn
Nurses must stay updated on the latest advancements to provide the best care and adapt to changes in the field. Nurses should join nursing associations and pursue continuing education to help improve their skills and enhance their knowledge. This ensures that they remain effective, confident, and capable of delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
How Can I Get Started?
Nurses are vital to health care. They provide direct, compassionate care and serve as patients’ primary point of contact. Are you ready to pursue your career in nursing? To become a registered nurse, you can choose between two educational paths: an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. Both programs prepare graduates for licensure and entry-level RN roles. However, to specialize or advance to higher-level positions, work experience and, in some cases, a master’s degree may be necessary.
Excelsior University offers online nursing degree programs at all levels, providing the knowledge and confidence needed to advance in your nursing career.
