Your career is extremely important. For many people, it is what defines them and gives their lives meaning and purpose. Even if this isn’t necessarily the case for you, having a job you enjoy is crucial; after all, you are going to be spending most of your time working until you retire, so it really should be something you like doing.
A career in healthcare can be a perfect choice if you’re looking for something enjoyable, something worthwhile, and something you can do for as many years as you want to. If you are wondering what career sector to go into, or if you’re thinking of changing careers to something more fulfilling, nursing could be ideal for you. Here are some of the reasons why:
In Demand
It would be a terrible thing for someone to study hard, have many dreams about what a difference they are going to make in the world or how they are going to enjoy their lives, and then find that, after all that hard work and effort, there is no job for them. It won’t matter how many qualifications you have, if there is no career to go into, it will have all been for nothing.
A lot of the time people really are taking a gamble when they choose an area of study. They find something they enjoy and then they start working on gaining the degree or other qualifications they need, but they can’t ever guarantee they will have a job at the end of it, or at least not the kind of job they had really been hoping for.
However, when it comes to nursing you have a better chance of employment. Once you have studied for this and have the necessary qualifications and training, you are sure to find a job. Most hospitals and clinics are looking for nurses a lot of the time, and even if you have to look slightly further afield in terms of where you work, the fact is a job will certainly be easy to find, particularly when compared to other areas.
The Pay
It’s true that many believe nurses should be paid more than they are; they do a hard job that is absolutely crucial to people’s wellbeing, so it makes sense they should be paid a good amount. It is perhaps this idea that has given people the impression that nurses are paid poorly. In fact, nurses receive a good salary (it is simply less than many would like them to receive). Rather than listening to the rumors about nurses’ pay, it is best to check this out for yourself to see what you could be earning. Once you do know, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Starting salaries for nurses are relatively low, but there is a lot of room for progression, and wages will increase as your rank and responsibility grow. At the heart of it though, nursing will give you a career you can love with enough money to enjoy yourself and pay the bills. That’s a good thing all round.
Opportunities To Progress
As mentioned above, nursing offers a great deal of room for progression. As you gain more experience you will be able to move through the levels of work, becoming more and more responsible and higher up in the sector. In order to improve your chances of promotion and gain additional qualifications, taking an MSN nursing degree is a good idea. Having this qualification will show you are truly committed to your career and that you have the knowledge to go further.
Of course, experience is also crucial, so combining the two is the ideal way to get noticed and gain the recognition and promotional prospects you are looking for.
The Choice
There is so much choice when it comes to nursing that no matter what are you are interested in, you will find an area to work in, such as:
- Senior care
- Pediatrics
- OR nurses
- Mental health care
- ER
- Cancer patient care
- Rehabilitation
No matter what area you are most interested in or what suits you best, there will be a branch of nursing that offers you the chance to work doing what you want to do. This means the opportunities within nursing are unparalleled, and as long as you have your qualifications you should be able to find your dream job – this is not something that can be said for every sector.
Helping People
The main task of any nurse is to help people, and your patients have to be your priority, even if you are an ambitious person who is very interested in rising through the various levels of nursing and becoming the lead or head of a department. Without your patients, you wouldn’t have any work, so they really do need to come first.
This is something that those who have a true calling for nursing aren’t going to mind in the least. In fact, along with other factors, it is going to be one of the main reasons for becoming a nurse in the first place. It is a privilege to be able to help people in the way that nurses can, and they make such a difference to their patients’ lives. When you are looking for ultimate job satisfaction, nursing should certainly be something to consider. There is nothing quite like it.
It’s Exciting
Finally, a standard 9 to 5 job that asks you to do the same things, day in and day out, is not for everyone. Some prefer a little more excitement and more challenges during their working day so that when they have finished and go home, they really can say they have done a good job, and can look back at their achievements happily and proudly.
Nursing is the kind of career that is exciting, and it is different every day. There is nothing routine about it because you just won’t know who is going to need your help or how they will need your help.
This may not be the primary reason for choosing a career in healthcare, but it is certainly a nice bonus that can keep your interest for many years to come.
