There are numerous reasons to become a registered nurse.
For example, many nurses enjoy various career choices, excellent job security, and great pay.
Nursing also provides possibilities for travel, relocation, and flexible work schedules.
As a result, it’s the perfect occupation for those who love helping others, enjoy the medical field, and want career versatility.
Here are ten great reasons to become a registered nurse.
1. Diverse Career Opportunities
There are copious occupations nurses can pursue that match their ambitions and values.
It includes hospital jobs like med-surgical nursing, labor and delivery, NICU nursing, critical care, trauma nursing, and travel nursing.
However, there are many non-bedside nursing professions outside hospitals as well.
For instance, careers in telemedicine, legal consulting, research, aesthetics nursing, education, freelance writing, and mental health.
Accordingly, many curious and passionate individuals find suitable work that matches their personalities and interests.
It’s because over one hundred jobs are available within the nursing profession.
As a result, you don’t need to stay with a hospital job you don’t like.
You also don’t need to work in a nursing home or a clinic.
All you need is to consider the occupation that best matches your pursuits and ideals.
Best of all, you can change careers if the current job doesn’t suit you.
The same possibilities aren’t likely for professions with few career choices or no practical corporate ladder to climb.
2. Job Security & High Demand
Nursing is in high demand and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
As the economy ages and experienced nurses retire, a growing nursing shortage requires highly trained medical professionals.
Inadequate health from modern diets and lifestyles contributes significantly to healthcare specialists’ demand.
Accordingly, nursing offers excellent job security as there will always be a need for the profession.
The most desirable opportunities exist for nurses willing to travel to underserved locations.
Some hospitals and healthcare facilities offer attractive bonuses and incentives for nurses prepared to travel for temporary assignments.
Numerous growing technological, law, entrepreneurship, education, and research disciplines require educated nurses.
3. Exceptional Pay
The growing nursing shortage, demand for trained nurses, and nursing challenge influence income for qualified medical professionals.
Nurses spend years in college developing their training and knowledge.
Later they spend their careers helping others, providing emotional/psychological support, and giving themselves to the medical profession.
Nurses must also take continuing education courses to remain current on the latest medical practices.
Accordingly, registered nurses earn excellent wages due to the economy’s high demand for expertise, training, and medical support.
Many hard-working nurses earn over six figures a year working in underserved areas that offer great pay and incentives.
4. Attractive Benefits & Job Incentives
The nursing shortage and high demand for medical professionals in underserved areas have increased the demand for qualified healthcare specialists.
As a result, numerous careers offer attractive benefits and job incentives to attract high-quality registered nurses.
Some benefits include bonuses, travel/relocation pay, employee-subsidized health insurance, and an education allowance.
Nurses may also receive additional paid time off, reimbursement for certification fees, and retirement contributions.
Altogether these incentives create attractive packages for registered nurses with experience and career flexibility.
5. Flexible Work Schedule
There are over one hundred careers available for qualified registered nurses.
As a result, many nurses find jobs that allow them to work flexible schedules and pick up extra hours when necessary.
Registered nurses typically work twelve-hour shifts in hospital settings and work morning, noon, or night shifts.
However, some nurses work part-time, per diem, or on temporary assignments to accommodate their schedules.
Travel nurses work on an assignment basis, enabling them to pick a desirable location temporarily.
It supports nurses who love to travel and want to take time off when not on assignment.
Other careers like freelance medical writing, telehealth medicine, per diem nursing, and clinic side jobs allow nurses to earn extra money when they want.
Finally, many nurses who work 12-hour shifts work only three days per week.
As a result, they have plenty of time to manage their schedule, take time off and pursue different passions/interests.
6. Travel and Relocation
Travel nursing is popular among registered nurses who want to visit other states or travel abroad.
Essentially, this occupation allows nurses to work on temporary assignments with understaffed hospitals by filling empty staff positions.
Travel nursing jobs are often short-term, lasting a few weeks to a few months.
During this time, travel nurses assist the hospital until they obtain adequate coverage.
Hospitals hire travel nurses during training when staff cannot provide patient care or during emergencies requiring extra workers.
Travel nurses also cover for nurses on temporary leave.
Sometimes, a hospital or healthcare facility offers relocation packages for nurses willing to relocate.
These packages may include housing costs, a rental vehicle, bonus pay, and various compensations to make relocation easier.
7. Nurses Improve Others Lives
By helping patients lead better, healthier lives, nursing provides healthcare professionals with a deep sense of purpose.
Many registered nurses picked this profession to improve the lives of the patients and communities they serve.
And although nursing offers numerous benefits outside of patient care, few aspects are as rewarding as being a part of someone’s recovery and well-being.
Registered nursing is a great career if your life goal is to change the lives of those around you and save lives.
8. Fast-Entry into Nursing
There are numerous ways to enter the nursing field quickly for those passionate about the medical field.
Many registered nurses start as certified nurse assistants or licensed practical nurses to find healthcare work promptly.
Notably, it only takes a few months to become a CNA or a year to become an LPN, which is excellent for those who want to determine whether nursing is the right career.
After gaining experience, CNAs and LPNs can join a nursing program to obtain their registered nursing licenses and pursue more prominent roles.
Ultimately, gaining fast entry into healthcare is straightforward because nurses are in high demand and fill many healthcare positions.
9. Education, Support, & Personal Growth
The nursing profession provides lots of education, support, and growth for those who want to advance their careers.
Nurses pursue careers in education, research, technology, legal consulting, forensics, and entrepreneurship.
Registered nurses also earn advanced degrees and become advanced practice registered nurses.
Nurses have the most comprehensive scope of practice at this level and can become primary care providers and open clinics to support the community.
Highly trained and educated nurses provide invaluable insights, contributions, and technological advancements to improve healthcare.
With a bit of research, you’ll find lots of valuable information to pursue a wide variety of careers within the nursing sector.
There are also various forums for nurses who want to connect, share stories, and provide knowledge to other medical professionals.
10. Nursing is an Expanding Community
The nursing profession continually expands with new healthcare sectors developing, researching advancements, and evolving patient care practices.
Nursing began as a single focus to improve patient care and reduce death rates.
However, it evolved into an ever-growing healthcare sector with over one hundred occupations for qualified registered nurses.
Nursing will only expand over the years and decades as technology grows and nurses find new ways to improve the medical field.
As a result, nursing is a resilient profession offering excellent job security, career diversity, and exceptional benefits for those passionate about healthcare.