As a society, we recognise the value of nurses. Unfortunately though we don’t show them nearly enough appreciation. Nurses are essential to our society and at some point in our lives, all of us will be taken care of by a nurse.
The challenges of nursing may deter some from pursuing the profession, but those who are drawn to it possess a unique passion and commitment to making a difference in people’s lives. Despite the perceived lack of financial compensation, individuals who enrolled nursing course in Melbourne and pursue nursing as a career are motivated by the intrinsic value of their work and the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world.
There are a number of reasons why nursing is a formidable career choice. If you are looking for a new career then you should consider being a nurse, and we’ll tell you why…
This wide-ranging profession is an excellent, solid, and secure, career choice. Nurses can work in a variety of different settings, each of which offers a completely unique work experience. Many of these career paths consist of lucrative and rewarding work, and few careers have the same opportunities to make a real and important difference to other people’s lives.
Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider a career in nursing. Even if you have never thought of it as a potential career path before, research has revealed that nursing is in fact one of the most rewarding careers you can possibly follow.
Nurses are in Constant Demand
Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in the US and UK, and it has been for years. The need for nurses extends far beyond the United States and UK though – nurses are in demand all over the world. This means that the skills you will learn as a nurse are highly transferable.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as just hopping on a plane to another country and then launching straight back into a nursing career when you get there. The exact qualification that you need can vary between different parts of the world. In some cases, you may be able to apply for work in one country with a qualification from another. For example, it is possible to apply for work as a nurse in Canada on the basis of a US qualification.
It is also possible to pursue an international nursing qualification. These qualifications are designed for nurses who wish to travel while they work. If you would like to travel to areas of the world where nurses are most needed and help people there, an international nursing qualification is the best choice.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has reported that some nursing schools are being forced to turn away qualified applicants because they only have a limited number of individuals who are qualified to serve as educators. This leads to a situation where there is a shortage of registered nurses. It also means that other roles, such as nursing administrators and managers also suffer. This is an unfortunate situation, but it does mean that nurses are in high demand, especially at the more senior levels where they can assist in training junior nurses.
A Stable Career
Nursing is one a rare career pathway which is truly recession proof. They are in constant demand and there are no end of vacancies that a qualified nurse can apply for at any given time. If current trends are maintained, between 2010 and 2020 the number of registered nurses in employment will have grown by 26 percent. Few other industries can boast stats nearly as impressive as these. This rate of growth is considerably above the national average for the US.
Again, while a relative shortage of nurses is a problem that our society needs to fix, this means that those who do find work as a nurse have a high degree of job security. Because nursing positions come with such good job security, it is usually possible to continue to work in the same place while advancing through the ranks at the pace you desire.
Many nurses will stay with the same hospital or other health care institution for the duration of their careers. This approach will not suit everyone. Some people need periodic change in their lives and will prefer to occasionally change their work environment.
If you think that nursing sounds like the long term, stable career that you have been looking for, then you might be interested to know that you can study for a nursing degree online. As an example, you can check out Nursing@Georgetown for more information on becoming a FNP (family nurse practitioner).
Progression Opportunities
There are multiple different levels of nursing qualification. As a qualified nurse, you are free to progress through the ranks as quickly or as slowly as you like. The ability to advance at your own pace and undertake each step at a time of your choosing, relieves much of the usual pressure that comes from career advancement.
Most nurses will work up to a certain level and then choose to remain there. Generally, the top levels of nursing qualification are only pursued by those who want to take on the most senior roles, such as head nurse. Most other nurses will progress through the ranks until they reach the level that best suits them.
A Diverse Work Environment
One of the major selling points of a career in nursing, is the diversity of the opportunities that it opens. There is a wide range of healthcare jobs and scenarios where a nurse is needed. As a result, for those who are looking for a health care-related career, nothing will open quite as many doors as nursing will.
The most common general practice positions that a registered nurse, or a nurse practitioner, would work in account for the majority of nurses. Some nurses choose to focus on a particular specialty, for example, oncology, and only work with patients in this area.
Along with a diverse range of careers, the environments themselves change dramatically between different nursing roles. We picture nurses in hospitals, and while this is where most nurses will start out, many will go on to work in other arenas.
Not all nurses work directly with patients. Many nursing roles are behind-the-scenes and are related more to organization and logistics. You will usually need to have some firsthand experience working ‘on the floor’ before applying for a senior role managing other nurses. A career as a nurse is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for that rare combination of excellent job stability, fantastic pay, numerous career progression opportunities, and the ability to work in a number of different settings.
Of course, one of the major selling points of working as a nurse is the opportunities it provides to help other people and make a genuine and meaningful difference to their lives. In this respect, there are very few careers as rewarding as nursing. If you think that this sounds like the kind of career that you would excel in, you should make enquiries today with your local university, or look online for distance learning options.
