Nurses are often referred to as the unsung heroes of healthcare, and while it is important to acknowledge the hard work of every member of a healthcare team, indeed, nurses work tirelessly to deliver high-quality care to patients and support other healthcare staff. It is a well-respected profession and one that will always be needed as people go through various health issues and changes throughout their lives.
Although there are a lot of career opportunities out there, and even a variety of exciting roles in healthcare itself, for the right person, nursing can be a true calling. If you are starting to think about what you would like to do for a career, or perhaps even considering changing careers at a later stage in life, below are some reasons why you should seriously consider becoming a nurse.
1. Nurses are in Demand
Nurses are in high demand as the pressures on the healthcare system continue to rise, particularly in the wake of a global pandemic. While the world might have returned to normal for the most part after this event, there are still a lot of people in healthcare who are dealing with the aftermath of it, as well as still treating patients with Covid and related issues. To help alleviate these pressures on nurses and other healthcare staff, the demand has increased in recent years, but it was always there despite these events. This is because patients and healthcare teams will always need support and care.
2. You Will Have Career Development Opportunities
Another good reason to get into nursing is that it’s a career that can offer you a lot of development opportunities. Most people don’t want to work in the same role for their entire career as this would be incredibly dull. Furthermore, as your skills develop, you will start looking for challenges to help keep you motivated. This is why choosing a career that can provide these chances for progression is so attractive, and becoming a nurse will offer you this.
Some of the roles you could pursue once you become a registered nurse include head nurse of a department, working in mental health, pediatric nursing, geriatric nursing, nurse practitioner, working as a nurse educator, school nurse, research nurse, working in palliative care, and even forensic nursing, to name a few roles. There is so much to cover in this field, so finding a specialization that fits your personality and interests shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. You may even be surprised to discover a role you haven’t heard of only to find it’s your dream job. It’s truly a fantastic opportunity for a very exciting career.
3. You Can Take Pride in Your Work
Of course, if you are interested and excited about the career you have, you will be proud of your work no matter what it is, and rightly so. However, there is a bit of a difference when you are working in nursing or another healthcare role, as the job you’re doing will be making a difference to other people’s lives. It’s a direct contribution to your local community and society as a whole, allowing people the opportunity to improve their lifestyles and health, and being able to comfort them in their time of need. Throughout your career, even though it can and will get tough at times, you can take solace in knowing that you are providing an essential service that has a positive impact on others.
4. A Career That Won’t Get Boring
If you can’t bear the thought of a career that will have you doing the same thing day in, day out, or means you will be tied to a desk all day, then taking the time to consider nursing will be worthwhile. Each day will bring something different and present new challenges, whether this is meeting new patients, thinking on your feet to resolve a problem, welcoming new nurses to the team, or something else entirely. It’s a career that will never get boring, and not just because there are a lot of different opportunities for you to explore in this field. Working with all kinds of different people can be enlightening and inspiring, making this a very fulfilling job.
How Do You Become a Nurse?
If all the above has piqued your interest, you might be wondering how to go about becoming a nurse. You will need to have a degree in nursing, so applying to attend nursing school is one of the first things you’ll need to do. However, consider the following points first to help you decide if nursing could be the right fit for you.
. Shadow a Nurse
Nursing might sound like a great career to you at the moment, and as wonderful as it can be, it isn’t the right job for everyone. To help you gain better insight into this role, think about finding some work-shadowing opportunities first. You can contact your local hospital or another healthcare clinic to enquire about shadowing opportunities or speak to nursing schools that might be able to point you in the right direction. Spending one or two days following a nurse while they carry out their daily duties can give you more of an idea of what you can expect to be doing in this role. They might also be able to offer you advice and tips on what to do next for your journey into nursing.
. Assess Your Skills
You might also want to take this time to assess your current skills and see where there could be gaps. Although you will learn a lot of specialist skills while you are training to become a nurse, there are some basics like communication skills, time management, organization, and the ability to work well under pressure that will be an excellent fit for a role like this. If you do think there’s room for improvement, start taking the steps to better prepare you for your venture into a nursing career.
Look at Nursing Courses
Once you have officially decided that you want to become a nurse, you will need to find a suitable degree program to enrol on. Don’t apply for just one school, as it’s better to have some options to choose from and increase your chances of acceptance. Do your research into some of the best nursing schools in areas you are interested in studying or ones that are closer to home if you don’t want to relocate for your studies. You might also want to think about online degree programs as an option, particularly if you are trying to fit your studies around work, family, or other commitments you have. Online degrees can be a more flexible approach to learning, and they are usually not as expensive as attending college in the traditional sense. A good example of some online nursing degrees includes the ones offered at Wilkes University, which also cover higher degrees in nursing if this is something you’re interested in.
Getting Your Nursing License
When you have completed your undergraduate degree in nursing, you can then prepare for your nursing licensure exams. You will need to pass these exams to become a qualified registered nurse, and you will need to check your state’s guidelines for these exams. It’s also worth noting that if you do choose to move to a new state later in life, you might have to resit these exams to get a license to practice there. This isn’t always the case, but it’s something worth looking into if you do find yourself in this situation. Once you have completed these exams, you can then start applying for your first nursing job!
Keep Developing Your Skills
As you spend more time working on the wards or in the setting you’ve chosen to work in, you will naturally strengthen your skills and become more confident. However, it’s important not to get complacent, particularly if you’re interested in moving up the nursing career ladder. Do work on the continuation of your skill development as a nurse, not only so you can keep delivering the best care to your patients, but to also enhance your opportunities for professional growth.
There are a lot of interesting careers out there that can offer you a lot, but if you are someone who wants to make a difference and work closely with others, then nursing is a job that can allow you this opportunity. It’s a career that will challenge you, offer you stability, the opportunity to develop specialist skills, and one you can take a lot of pride in. You will meet people from all kinds of backgrounds and get to know part of their story, you will make friends with your colleagues, and each day can bring you something different. The world does need more nurses, so if you want to help make a positive contribution to your local community and push yourself in your career, then nursing could be the perfect path for you.