Steady industry growth, great wages, flexibility and more—learn about these benefits and the other top reasons to become a nurse.
December 04, 2017
Nursing is as much of a calling as it is a career path. More so than any other reason, many become interested in the profession because they feel called to it and want to do work that helps people. As a nurse, you’ll definitely have a positive effect on the lives of your patients, but that’s just one of the reasons to become a nurse.
From job security and flexibility to competitive salaries, there are plenty of other reasons why nursing can be a rewarding occupation. Here are 10 more reasons why you should consider this healthcare career:
1. Accessible, quality training options
Through Marian University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you can receive a BSN in as few as 16 months if you already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. We offer both hybrid/online-based as well as campus-based accelerated programs, so you can choose the option that works best for you.
If you were on your way to completing a prior degree but life got in the way—no problem! Through Marian’s Adult Programs, you can finish your first degree in Health and Human Serviceswhile also completing theprerequisite coursesnecessary for you to apply to nursing school. MAP is accessible, with accelerated online courses available offered several times a year, meaning you can finish them on your own timeline.
2. Steady industry growth
Registered nurses are Indiana’s most in-demand occupation, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s “Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs” list, due to the state’s nursing shortage. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of registered nurses will grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024 nationally due to aging and retiring baby-boomers, increased access to health insurance, and advances in healthcare that extend the average life span.
3. Active, exciting work
Nursing is the furthest thing from a desk job—no sitting at a desk staring at a computer screen all day for you! On the contrary, you’ll be on your feet tending to patients and working with a dedicated team of healthcare providers every day. True, while some parts of the job are more interesting than others, nursing is a profession of constant excitement and challenge.
4. A job that makes a difference
As Val Saintsbury once said, “Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” It’s true—Nurses do more than give medicine and treat wounds; they care about the patients they care for, helping them improve their lives and disease outcomes. As a nurse, you’ll have the chance to leave a positive mark on someone’s life almost daily.
5. Professional development opportunities
Because no day as a nurse is ever the same, you’ll likely learn something new on the job every day, with ample on-the-job training and professional development opportunities. Plus, once you earn your BSN, more advanced nursing degree options become available to you, including nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse leader, and nurse educator. (Hint: You can pursue many of these advanced degrees at Marian University!)
6. Variety of work environments
Your BSN degree holds the ticket to potential employment at a corporate clinic, nursing care facility, or school system. For the more adventurous types, there’s also emergency flight nursing, cruise ship nursing, and travel nursing, among other unique job opportunities.
7. Interesting specialties
From psychiatric floors to emergency rooms, nurses have many options when it comes to finding a specialty that interests them. Besides, if you don’t find the right fit right away, don’t sweat it! With a nursing degree you’re qualified for just about any specialty, making a switch simple. For example, if you find that caring for adult patients isn’t for you, you can always change course and become a pediatric nurse.
8. Flexible work schedule
Depending on where you work, nursing shift lengths can fluctuate based on your needs. That means you can take evening shifts if you’re not a morning person, or work longer shifts over fewer days so you can spend larger chunks of time with you family if that suits your personal schedule better. Or, if a traditional work schedule appeals more to you, you can often find what you’re looking for by working at a clinic or physician’s office.
9. Competitive salary
With the current nursing shortage, you can expect job security and great wages. The mean annual registered nurse salary in Indiana was $60,050 in 2016, according to theBLS. Other more advanced degrees net even higher salaries, with nurse anesthetists earning an average of $148,650 and nurse practitioners earning an average of $99,240 in 2016.
10. Well-respected work
As a nurse, you’ll be in trusted company. With the long-held reputation of being compassionate healers, nurses consistently rank highly in Gallup research polls for honesty and ethical standards among various fields. In 2016, nurses topped the listwith 84 percent of the public rating their standards as “high” or “very high,” a position the profession has held for the past 15 years.
