Choose nursing for a rewarding career
“I know exactly what I want to be when I grow up,” my then nine-year-old niece said one day. “I’m going to play in the WNBA for three years and then go back to school to become a doctor. Or maybe I’ll become an actress.” So much for “exactly.” She had a little talent for basketball and acting but finally chose to pursue a career in medicine.
On what was supposed to be her first day of classes at university, she was in the hospital having her gallbladder removed. The next day she called to say, “I’ve changed my mind about becoming a physician. I want to be a nurse.” She said that the care and compassion she got from the attending nurses resonated with her.
I was delighted that she’d found her path and that so many other women and men have found nursing to be their ambition and passion, especially during this health crisis. I’m sure you’ll join me in saluting these dedicated healthcare providers and saying a big “thank you” to these dedicated people who put their lives on the line every day. And, by the way, it’s National Nurses Week, which gives us good reason to show our appreciation.
Nursing has transitioned from women dressed in white dresses, stockings, and hats whose primary function was clean-up to becoming the backbone of the healthcare industry. Nurses of both sexes today are better educated, have more responsibilities and specializations. From a hospital setting to nursing homes, to medical offices to schools, to correctional facilities to home health care, nurses today have a lot more options.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nursing is one of the top occupations for job growth through 2028. They estimate that 371,500 new RN jobs will be added by the year 2028. And, it’s not just registered nurses. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are also in high demand.
We know we need them, but why would someone want to become one? The Nurse Journal offers twenty-five reasons for pursuing a career in nursing.
First off, nurses make a real difference. “Nurses, quite literally, save lives every day. They monitor patients, making sure they receive all the care they need,” NJ says.
They also say students can easily find academic programs, whether in person (there’s a nursing school in every state) or online. Plus, many nursing students can find financial aid opportunities.
“Students can find funding from colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, companies, and professional organizations. This financial boost can help nursing graduates enter the industry without worrying about debt,” NJ says.
In a 2017 survey, 83 percent of nurses said they were satisfied with their career choice. And, two-thirds of the respondents said that they would encourage others to pursue a career in nursing. A 2018 survey hosted by the Varkey Foundation (an educational organization) ranked nurses as the third-most respected occupation right after teachers and doctors. (Dang, journalists didn’t make the list.)
And, another survey, this one from Gallup in 2018 found that Americans believe that nurses perform the country’s most honest and ethical work. About 84 percent of those polled responded that nurses held high or very high ethical standards.
“Nurses get to do exciting work; no one day looks the same,” NJ says. “Each day involves meeting different patients with various health concerns, so nurses tackle challenges that change every time they step into work.”
What appealed to my niece was that nurses could choose their specialties. “Nursing students can choose to concentrate in a particular area based on their interests,” NJ says. “They might opt to work with infants as midwives or neonatal nurse practitioners, for instance. Or they could do in gerontology or anesthesiology, among other options.
In this stable environment of healthcare, salaries, and benefits are competitive. Higher education opportunities abound. Everyday challenges translate into learning experiences. “Nurses learn about people, diseases, cultures, and treatments in their day-to-day work,” NJ says.
Most recently, my niece went back to school to obtain her doctorate in nursing practice degree. So, now she is a doctor, but the WNBA still hasn’t called. But I will, just to say, “thanks.”
Kathy Hubbard is a member of Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.