The Benefits and Opportunities of Being a Nurse
Ever considered going into nursing? The nursing profession is one of the most rewarding in the world. Nursing make not make you wealthy in the financial sense, but you may feel rich in the sense of the difference you make in the lives of others. This sounds pretty motivational, but what are the actual benefits of being a nurse, and what can nurses do in the healthcare industry? Perhaps considering nursing as a career, even in later life, is an option for you?
What Can Nurses Do in the Healthcare Industry?
While we tend to think of nurses in the context of working on wards in hospitals, the opportunities are considerably greater. In the healthcare industry, nurses are at the front of patient care, caring for patients in different facilities like nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, general practitioners, and rehabilitation facilities.
Nurses are responsible for performing many different tasks, like patient examinations, paperwork, caring for and observing patients, and working alongside doctors to provide treatments. Probably one of their most important tasks is making patients feel at ease during their stay at a hospital or healthcare facility.
Often, when people think of nursing, they just think of the tasks we’ve mentioned above. But the field of nursing is actually much bigger than you think. Here are some possible career avenues within nursing that one can choose:
- Psychiatry
- Urology
- Paediatrics
- Neonatal
- Medical-Surgical
- Haematology
- Trauma
- Ambulatory Care
- Home Health
- Obstetrics
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
- Critical Care
- Dermatology
- Hospice
- Orthopaedics
- Emergency
The Benefits of Being a Nurse
Many experienced nurses will tell you that nursing isn’t a profession that you wake up one day and decide to do. It’s centred on a desire to help people. So, before we consider the benefits and the reasons for considering nursing as a career, we’d suggest looking at them through this lens:
Caring For Others as They Get Better
The entire nursing profession revolves around providing healthcare for patients. The effort, patience, and compassion that goes into the job produces a reward in itself. Think about it, you get to be the highlight of someone’s day when they’re feeling down or scared. Not many people can say that.
Salary Options
While this might depend on the organisation you work for, nurses are often required to work overtime for which they get paid well. Currently, the world is in dire need of nurses. According to the World Health Organisation, 6 Million nurses are needed in healthcare facilities around the world.
With such demand for nurses, you can understand why overtime would be a necessity for existing nursing. Having the opportunity to earn overtime makes this requirement more appealing as the cost of leaving continues to challenge many households.
Many nurses also consider short-term contracts or nursing banks where hours may be flexible but rates are much higher.
Travel Possibilities
Nurses are needed all over the world in first world and third-world countries. Because of the shortage of nurses, countries that have a surplus of nurses offer aid to others who need it. These “nursing exchange programs” provide nurses with the opportunity to see some of the most amazing places in the world. For many, this travel perk is definitely a plus. For others, they may also consider working in some of the most war-torn or disaster-stricken countries in the world. While the circumstances may be challenging, the sense of purpose for many is the driving factor. For these wonderful people, it is being of service to others that has instigated choosing a career in nursing.
Continual Education Opportunities
As technology improves, so does the healthcare industry. New and more effective machinery and medical tools are released every year, improving the health system. While nurses might specialise in a certain field of nursing, they’re always learning as new methods and equipment are added to the healthcare system. This provides nurses with continual education opportunities to better their skills as nurses.
Specialty Possibilities
As you can see in the section above, there are loads of different fields that nursing can be practised in. Some of them require a traditional nursing qualification, while others need you to study further to specialise in them. The opportunity to specialise is also accompanied by other factors as well, like career opportunities or higher pay.
Career Advancement Opportunities
As a nurse, there are plenty of ways to move up the ladder. Depending on your interests and goals, of course, you could become a shift leader or floor manager or even move into upper management. Many nurses also transition to other healthcare roles, like physician assistants or nurse practitioners. Either way, there are a lot of opportunities to improve your career as a nurse.
Professional Recognition
Nurses are highly respected all over the world. Many people often hold them in high esteem. This is likely because they deal with people who are often at their lowest but do so in a gentle, compassionate way (or at least that’s how things should be). Becoming a licensed nurse is also no walk in the park. Nurses study hard and are trained well to ensure they can be trusted with the lives of others.
Considering nursing as a career certainly demands commitment, but it can be so rewarding, too.
Flexibility
Nursing offers a lot of flexibility. Some nurses work part-time, others full-time, and some even work seasonally or temporarily to fit their schedules. Being able to switch between part-time and full-time as needed is a huge perk. This kind of flexibility also creates space for nurses to further their studies. For instance, part-time nurses can consider taking an online nursing course in a new subfield of nursing that they want to qualify for.
Shift Scheduling Options
Nurses often have different schedules compared to the typical 9-to-5. Many hospital nurses work three 12-hour shifts per week, giving them more free time. If that doesn’t appeal to you, clinic nurses often have more traditional schedules. This variety helps nurses find a work-life balance that suits them.
Final Thoughts
Nurses are an essential part of the world’s healthcare systems. It’s a job and a calling and can be incredibly rewarding. What better calling is there than to save a life, or making someone as comfortable as possible in their last hours?
Considering nursing as a career demands dedication, but the rewards can be amazing. As a nurse, you’ll be a part of saving lives every day. As you decide whether nursing is for you or not, consider the benefits. We hope they help you make the right decision going forward.