With 2021 now in full swing, there may come a point where you re-evaluate your career. If you’re not happy in your current profession, it may be time to switch to a field that allows you to use your skills and expertise to the best of your ability. For those with a caring personality, a career in nursing may be the perfect path to take.
If you want to make a positive impact on other people’s lives and can handle working under pressure, here are some of the key reasons why a career in nursing may benefit you this year.
Make a Real Difference
One of the main reasons why people go into nursing is to make a real difference in a patient’s life. Being in a role that provides a great sense of accomplishment will give you something to work towards and make you feel valued and respected. Having the honor and privilege to engage with patients from all kinds of backgrounds and nurse them back to good health is a highly humbling and rewarding experience that you won’t find with many other roles.
In many cases, your quick thinking and judgment can save a patient’s life, so if you want to use your expertise and skills to benefit the nursing sector, entering a nursing role will give you the opportunity to inspire change.
Ample Job Opportunities
In the nursing stratosphere, there are all kinds of specialties you can head into. Therefore, doing your research in advance will help narrow down the list to ensure you pick a role that matches your credentials and skill set. For instance, if you like working with babies and children, it may be wise to go into midwifery, whereas for those who are interested in cardiovascular health, becoming a cardiac nurse may be the right career for you.
Before deciding on any nursing specialty, you must look into the entry requirements first. Baylor University has a range of accelerated nursing programs online that you can consider looking into. You must earn the correct credentials before applying for roles, otherwise your application won’t be taken any further. No matter what program you pick, you will learn valuable transferable skills such as knowing how to communicate effectively and the importance of time management.
Work in a Variety of Environments
When we think of a nursing role, hospitals tend to be the most common environment you’ll find them in. However, if you want to work in nursing but don’t like the idea of being in a hospital, there are a wide range of settings you can practice in. Once you earn your nursing degree, you can work in a school, nursing home, or even a prison.
If you don’t like the idea of being stuck in one place, picking a nursing role that allows you to go out into the community and help others may be more suited to you. Understandably, some roles can only be performed in a hospital environment, so you will need to find a position that matches your needs.
Opportunity to Travel
There are all sorts of benefits you can gain from traveling the globe. Whether it’s engaging with people from all walks of life, soaking up different cultures, seeing historical landmarks or boosting mental health, you can combine your love for nursing and travel and work overseas if you wish. There is a great need for healthcare across the world, meaning you can head to other continents and start a new life.
If you would like to become a travel nurse, you must obtain a BSN degree and have a couple of years’ experience behind you. Depending on where you head to in the world, English may not be the primary language. Therefore, you will need to learn the basics in order to communicate. You may wish to use your knowledge and experience to travel and help those living in underdeveloped countries, helping residents get the care and treatment they need.
Flexible Work Schedule
Many individuals don’t like working the typical Monday to Friday, 9-5. While routine is a must for some, others like the freedom to work at a time and leisure that suits them best. Depending on the nature of your profession, you may be required to take shifts that can see you working in the early hours. There is the opportunity to work longer shifts over a fewer number of days, meaning for those who have families, they can schedule their time easier, especially if you have young children.
For those who want to work in a nursing management role, you may have the freedom to pick your working hours. This means you can create a schedule that suits your needs. Some nursing roles require you to work 12-hour shifts with little time to sit down, so you must take this into account before applying for a position.
Competitive Salary
If there is one thing most of us look out for in a job, it’s a decent salary. We all want job security too, so when you factor in the shortage of nurses, this means you can expect to find a nursing role with ease and command a healthy salary. Whether you plan to become a nurse anesthetist, which can see you earn $148,000 annually, or a nurse practitioner role which can see you earn an average of $99,500, the majority of nurses make between $48,000 and $105,000 annually in the United States.
Before deciding on a nursing specialty, having an idea of how much you will make each year will help you plan ahead in terms of finding a home, starting a family, and identifying your day-to-day expenses. If you’re after a career that provides a competitive salary, venturing into nursing may prove lucrative.
If you believe your position on earth is to help others in need, pursuing a career in nursing is a no-brainer. Once you’ve obtained the qualifications and credentials you need, there are all sorts of nursing roles you can go into which will enable you to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Health category
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