7 Reasons to Be Glad You Chose a Career in Nursing

Nursing is certainly a career you can be proud of. You can impact the lives of patients, provide critical support to members of your community, and are continually learning due to the regular advancements made in the field of medicine. As a nurse, you’re a part of the nation’s largest healthcare profession—one of more than 3 million registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S.^1,2 If at times a long shift proves overwhelming, take a moment to think about the many benefits of your well-chosen path. Here are just a few:

1. A Career With Purpose. As a nurse, you can make a personal and lasting impact on your patients every day. You help provide comfort—both emotional and physical. While the work can be challenging, a career in nursing can be fulfilling and meaningful.
2. Numerous Job Opportunities. Whether you’re an RN ready to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, or you’re further along in your education and thinking about enrolling in a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, it’s good to refresh yourself on the opportunities ahead. More than 270,000 advanced practice registered nurse positions are expected to be created each year from 2020–2030.² In addition, many individuals in the workforce are retiring, so a variety of positions will need to be filled.
3. Flexibility. Nursing schedules vary person by person. Oftentimes, nurses work 12-hour shifts three or four days a week. This type of schedule allows for shorter work weeks and has caregiving benefits as well. For example, overnight patients could have the same nurse throughout much of their stay, which can be a plus for continuity of care and for building patient rapport. As a registered nurse, flexibility can involve more than scheduling. You can work in a variety of settings ranging from schools and hospitals to private physician offices and clinics. You might even wish to pursue opportunities as a traveling nurse and work throughout the country.
4. Job Security. There are approximately 73 million baby boomers in the United States, all of whom will have reached retirement age by 2030.³ Not only does this mean there will be nursing positions to fill, but with such a large aging population, the demand for nurses will be great.
5. Fast-Paced Environment. Although the skills for nurses can be similar, the environments can be vastly different. So, when you choose a nursing specialty, it’s important to keep the type of environment in mind. For example, if you want to work with patients and families of all ages, you may want to pursue an MSN degree with a family nurse practitioner specialization. Other specializations could include pediatric nursing, psychiatric-mental health nursing, nursing informatics, public health nursing, adult-gerontology primary care, adult-gerontology acute care, nursing education, or nursing leadership.
6. Career Advancement. Nurses have the opportunity to specialize in many different fields. Employers are emphasizing the importance of nurses holding a bachelor’s degree, but if you want to become a nurse leader or nurse manager, you’ll need a master’s degree in nursing. To get to the highest educational level of your nursing career, select a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a PhD in Nursing.
7. The Ability to Improve Caregiving. RNs are a strong voice in the healthcare industry. In fact, the code of ethics produced by the American Nurses Association (ANA) states, “the nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.”⁴ As a nurse, you act as an advocate, making sure the needs of your patients are met, and similarly, that your patients have the right to make decisions regarding their own care.

Few career choices allow you to realize your passion while at the same time, helping save lives. You offer hope, counsel families, and often celebrate some of life’s most important events as a nurse. It’s a career you can be proud of and a career you can invest in. Take the next step in your education with a degree from Walden University.

Whether you want to pursue your bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in nursing, Walden has an array of CCNE-accredited programs to help you gain the skills and experience you need to further your career. And thanks to Walden’s convenient online learning platform, you can earn your nursing degree while you continue to work full time. With online learning, you can take classes at whatever time of day works best for you as you prepare to work on the front lines of healthcare delivery and impact patient care.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering a variety of online nursing degree programs. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-Information/fact-sheets/nursing-fact-sheet
²Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
³Source: www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/12/by-2030-all-baby-boomers-will-be-age-65-or-older.html
⁴Source: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.