The Best Things About Becoming A Nurse

When you choose a career path, it's essential to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of your choice to identify the right path for you. If you're interested in becoming a nurse, you've chosen a career that offers tremendous opportunities to help others and impact your community. You're likely a selfless person who thrives off making the world a better place.

Nursing is a fulfilling career choice, offering the opportunity to work in a field that suits you best, whether that's with children or intensive care units. While the profession is known for its long hours and odd shifts, the benefits of a nursing career far outweigh the small drawbacks. As a nurse, your commitment to the health and wellbeing of others allows you to stay motivated. You'll also feel that level of fulfillment in all areas of your life.

If you're curious about the benefits of a career in nursing, here are some of the best things about becoming a nurse:

1. Job Security

One of the biggest draws to becoming a nurse is job security. There is a huge need for nurses and the demand will continue to grow. Many nurses will have a job lined up before finishing their BSN and upskill from BSN to DNP. Once you have your DNP, you are pretty much guaranteed a great position as a nurse. 

Graduates of other programs may wait months and even years to find an appropriate job position. Not only is it easy to find a nursing job, but you are also secure once you're in the position. There is little to no risk of losing your role as a nurse because the demand will always be there. With the population increasing, especially the aging population, the number of nurses needed will continue to rise.

2. Flexibility

Something everyone knows about a job in nursing is that there's a lot of shift work. While some may see this as a disadvantage, it offers a lot of flexibility. Though the length of your shifts is basically set, you can choose a shift that works best for you. As a full-time nurse, you can choose between day shift, afternoon shift, or night shift. On top of that, you can pick which days you want to work and because you work long shifts, you don't need to work as many days.

If you don't want to work full-time, you can also go part-time, where you can work a limited number of hours per week or even only work on weekends. As you move throughout your career, you can choose shifts that suit your lifestyle. A job that changes as your life changes is hard to find.

You may want to work the night shift when you're younger and sleep during the day. When you decide to start a family, you might decide to choose longer shifts on a few days each week, which gives you more full days off to spend with your kids. As your kids get older and are in school, you might even decide to switch to the day shift, where you finish in time to pick your kids up from school. Whatever your preference, you can tweak your shifts and hours to suit your needs.

3. You can change jobs without having to change careers

Inevitably many people hit a point in their job where they feel ready to move on or try something slightly different. The great thing about a career in nursing is that there are many job opportunities within the profession. For example, if you work as an orthopedic nurse but decide that you want to switch it up a bit, you could start working in the ICU. 

Often you can move around to different units within your place of employment without even needing to move to a new location. It allows you to move around and try new things to figure out which area you like the best. The company you work for will cover any further training required to get you up to speed without you needing to pay for it or go back to school.

There are very few other careers that offer this type of advantage and support. Many people choose a career path and realize down the line that they want a change and need to start from scratch. They need to get a new degree and find a new employer. As a nurse, you have endless options for units and sectors to work within the nursing field.

4. Transferrable skills

The skills and knowledge you learn from working as a nurse will also translate into your personal life. As a nurse, you'll learn to be patient and cope with high-stress situations in a calm and collected manner. When an issue arises in everyday life, such as an injury, death, or even an emotional dispute, your skills will allow you to remain composed and deal with it sensibly.

Beyond just rationally handling things, the practical knowledge of managing injuries may allow you to help those in need during an emergency. You never know when an accident may happen when out in the streets or on an airplane, and the knowledge and expertise of a nurse could potentially save lives. A nurse can also help their family and friends when they are sick or advise on any illnesses or ailments they may have.

Nurses deal with a variety of different types of people daily from all walks of life. Regardless of where people come from, where they work or live, and how much money they have, everyone needs medical care. Dealing with such a broad spectrum of people allows nurses to develop incredible communication skills and the ability to empathize with anyone. Nurses often have to speak to family members and friends regarding serious topics, which means empathy is hugely important. As a nurse, you can bring that sense of empathy into all other aspects of your life and have a positive impact not only at work, but in everyday life. 

5. You develop strong relationships with your patients

As a nurse, you'll spend much more time with patients than the actual physicians will. Typically, the physician is in and out, while the nurse handles the majority of the interactions. On a standard 8-12 hour shift, you'll be with patients for hours on end, helping them through a very sensitive and scary time. 

Seeking out medical care is not a fun experience, but as a nurse, you have the opportunity to make it as positive as possible. During those hours spent with patients, they are at their most vulnerable, and therefore you'll form quick but strong relationships with them. They depend on you to help them and trust you with their life.

Often during these stressful moments, the best thing a nurse can do is distract the patient by engaging in conversations to keep their minds occupied. By asking about their personal life, family, and job, you not only keep the patient engaged but also show them that they are supported. You'll get to know your patients exceptionally well and look forward to the next time they visit.

6. It's rewarding

A career as a nurse is one of the most rewarding careers out there. Every day you are saving lives and making a substantial positive impact. Not only are you bettering your patients' lives, but also the lives of their families and friends. You are helping to give patients a higher quality of life and aiding them through some tough moments.

Regardless of which medical sector you choose to specialize in, the goal is the same: to help others reach an optimum state of wellbeing by restoring and maintaining their health. The fulfillment you feel in the workplace will translate into the rest of your life and your relationships. You'll likely run into many people in everyday life who you've impacted somehow, with patients remembering you years down the line.

Beyond just the emotional rewards, nurses are financially compensated well. The level of your education and your job role will impact your pay rate, but in general, the pay is good. Those with a DNP or FNP certification can typically expect to make more. The highest-paid nursing jobs include:

• Certified registered nurse anesthetist

• General nurse practitioner

• Clinical nurse specialist

• Psychiatric nurse practitioner

Ask any nurse, and they've likely chosen the career to change lives and make a difference, but financial compensation is a nice bonus.

Final Thoughts

There are so many fantastic reasons to choose a career in nursing. If you're looking for your purpose in life and to find a career that allows you to truly make a difference, then pursuing a nursing career will give you that chance. With no shortage of opportunities for advancement and flexibility for a work-life balance, a job as a nurse offers tons of potential. Not only will you be well compensated, but you'll build relationships that will last a lifetime and gain transferable skills that can help you in everyday life.