[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Do you have a passion for caring for people and want to see them get better? Consider a career in nursing.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Registered nurses (RNs) are in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects RN jobs to grow faster than average between 2023-2033. New RN roles will open as an estimated third of nurses over 55 retire, according to the Journal of Nursing Regulation.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing offers many [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/entry-level-nursing-paths/”]entry-level nursing options[/hen-ui-link], specialties, working environments and pathways for advancement. Learn 16 reasons why choosing a nursing career might be right for you.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]1 | Nurses Make a Real Difference[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses do much more than perform medical tasks. As a nurse, you can make a real difference in someone’s life. You can offer hope to people, sometimes during the worst time of their life. Nurses often counsel patients and families after a devastating diagnosis, celebrate good news, and become trusted confidantes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses can also improve their communities through volunteering. In a 2017 survey, 74% of nurses pointed to non-work related activities when asked what they had done to improve their community’s health. Activities included health fairs, health-related volunteering, raising or donating money, and traveling for volunteer work.[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”py-4 my-0 text-center border-b md:pb-8 md:border-none”]You might be interested in[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”3-col” ids=”34070,33931,33957″][/hen-ui-article-row]
[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-heading text-lg”]“Oftentimes, people are alone in the hospital, and while they (of course) need medical care, they also sometimes just need a friend and to know that someone cares. As a nursing student, this is something you can do even on your first day.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm” tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]— Sarah Brooks, ABSN student[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]2 | Nursing Degree Programs Exist Everywhere[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cta” target=”_blank”]National Center for Education Statistics[/hen-ui-link] (NCES) ranks health professions second for the number of associate and bachelor’s graduates. Most large cities have many colleges and universities that offer an [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/best-adn-programs/”]associate degree in nursing (ADN)[/hen-ui-link] or a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/”]bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]3 | Nurses Can Pursue Their Education Online[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can get your nursing degree through an accredited [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/best-online-nursing-programs/”]online nursing program[/hen-ui-link] anywhere in the U.S. Since nursing is a hands-on profession, you will be required to take classes online and complete in-person [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/clinical-experience-for-online-nursing-students/”]nursing clinicals[/hen-ui-link] in a healthcare setting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It’s important to ensure any nursing program you attend is accredited by the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.acenursing.org/” target=”_blank”]Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing[/hen-ui-link] or [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE” target=”_blank”]Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education[/hen-ui-link]. This is necessary to take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nclex/how-to-master-nclex-style-test-questions/”]master NCLEX-style test questions[/hen-ui-link] to get your license.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]4 | Many Nursing Students Find Financial Aid Opportunities[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Student debt can be overwhelming. Even with payback programs, it can take up to a decade to pay off school loans. Fortunately, nursing students have many [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/financial-aid/paying-for-your-nursing-degree/”]ways to pay for nursing school[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Some options to reduce total debt include [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/financial-aid/nursing-scholarships/”]nursing scholarships[/hen-ui-link] and grants from various organizations. Financial aid is available for students seeking an associate, bachelor’s, [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/financial-aid/ways-to-finance-your-masters-degree-in-nursing/”]master’s[/hen-ui-link], and even DNP degree. Many hospitals also offer tuition reimbursement programs for staff looking to go back to school to get their ADN or BSN.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Financing your nursing school education doesn’t have to leave you with a lot of debt.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]5 | Nurses Can Enter the Workforce Relatively Quickly[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Several [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/types-of-nursing-degrees/”]nursing degrees[/hen-ui-link] allow you to enter the workforce quickly. You can earn an ADN, pass the NCLEX-RN, and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”]get your nursing license[/hen-ui-link] in as little as two years. Then, if you return to school to complete your bachelor’s degree, you can do it while earning a stable income.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/best-paying-adn-jobs/”]Associate degrees in nursing[/hen-ui-link] are one of the highest paying associate degrees. According to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Associate_Degree_Nursing_(ADN)/Salary” target=”_blank”]Payscale data from July 2024[/hen-ui-link], graduates of an ADN program make $77,000 per year, which is around $24,000 more than graduates of other associate degree programs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/top-advantages-of-a-bsn-degree/”]Earning your BSN degree opens more opportunities[/hen-ui-link] for career advancement and a higher average annual salary of $95,000, [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_in_Nursing_(BSN)/Salary” target=”_blank”]according to Payscale[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]6 | Nurses Have a High Level of Job Satisfaction[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The 2023 American Mobile Nurses (AMN) Healthcare survey found that 71% of nurses were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their career choice. Although this percentage has gone down since 2021, the survey found a correlation between years of experience and job satisfaction, as nurses with over five years of experience reported greater career satisfaction than nurses with less than five years of experience.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In 2023, the[hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncsbn.org/news/ncsbn-research-projects-significant-nursing-workforce-shortages-and-crisis” target=”_blank”] National Council of State Boards of Nursing[/hen-ui-link] (NCSBN) reported that 100,000 nurses left nursing during the pandemic because of increased workloads and rising levels of workplace violence, [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/tips-for-avoiding-nurse-burnout/”]burnout[/hen-ui-link], and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/ask-a-nurse/how-to-combat-bullying-in-nursing/”]nurse bullying[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]About 800,000 expressed intent to leave by 2027. Yet, with all the challenges nurses face, nursing schools are still turning away tens of thousands of qualified applicants every year since 2019 because they [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/states-with-the-largest-nursing-faculty-shortage/”]do not have the nursing faculty[/hen-ui-link] to educate [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/post-pandemic-nursing-shortage/”]aspiring nurses.[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing schools nationwide need more nursing faculty. Yet, schools in midwestern states such as Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kansas, have about a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/states-with-the-largest-nursing-faculty-shortage/”]7% nurse faculty vacancy rate[/hen-ui-link] compared to about 10% vacancy rate in Southern and Western states, according to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacnnursing.org/” target=”_blank”]American Association of Colleges of Nursing[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-heading text-lg”]“When I speak with people and tell them my job, almost always the response is, ‘Once when I was sick, I had the best nurse take care of me, and I’ll always remember them helping me.’ It is a wonderful feeling to know we have helped.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm” tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]— Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]7 | Nurses Get to Do Exciting Work[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Each day with patients can be different. Whether in a clinic, office, a hospital, or an organization, nursing is not dull. In a [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/surveyed-nurses-consider-leaving-direct-patient-care-at-elevated-rates” target=”_blank”]McKinsey Frontline Workforce Survey from November 2021[/hen-ui-link] by AMN Healthcare, data showed that 32% of nurses had plans to leave their current positions. Only 29% of these nurses planned to stay in a direct patient care role.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The rest of the nurses had plans to move into a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/non-bedside-jobs-for-nurses/”]non-beside role[/hen-ui-link], further their education, or leave the workforce to focus on their family or other life goals. Nurses who planned to leave direct patient care wanted work-life balance, flexible work hours, safe working environments, better compensation, and more manageable workloads.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-heading text-lg”]“Nursing is incredibly versatile, and there are many ways to learn new skills and apply the ones you already have. It is one of the most exciting and unique things about nursing; you can be a chameleon and constantly change.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm” tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]— Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]8 | Nursing Is a Respected Field[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In 1999, [hen-ui-link href=”https://news.gallup.com/poll/328136/ethics-ratings-rise-medical-workers-teachers.aspx” target=”_blank”]Gallup started[/hen-ui-link] a decades-long survey to determine the most ethical and honest profession. In January 2024, Americans [hen-ui-link href=”https://news.gallup.com/poll/608903/ethics-ratings-nearly-professions-down.aspx” target=”_blank”]ranked nurses in the number one position[/hen-ui-link] for an impressive 22 years in a row.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In addition to ranking first, nurses earned the highest score to date in 2020 for honesty and ethics. In 2020, the ranking was four percentage points higher than the last recorded high in 2019.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]9 | Nurses Can Choose Their Specialty[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are vital to delivering healthcare in many different settings. You can choose from over [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nursing-specialties-guide/”]100 nursing specialties[/hen-ui-link], so you’ll likely never be bored.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can focus on a specific population, such as [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/geriatric-nurse/”]gerontological nursing[/hen-ui-link], or go into a more specialized field, such as a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/flight-nurse/”]flight nurse[/hen-ui-link] or [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/transplant-nurse/”]transplant nurse[/hen-ui-link]. You can also pursue roles that do not directly work with patients, such as [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/health-policy-nurse/”]health policy careers[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses can easily move from one specialty to another. For example, after practicing as a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/dialysis-nurse/”]dialysis nurse[/hen-ui-link], you may wish to become a traveling nurse. If you are an experienced specialty nurse, you may be able to pick your assignments.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you want to become a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/labor-and-delivery-nurse/”]labor and delivery nurse[/hen-ui-link], you may need some hands-on experience and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nurses-continuing-education-guide/”]continuing education for nurses[/hen-ui-link] before finding a new position.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]10 | Nurses Work in a Stable Industry[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]By 2030, the entire baby boomer generation will have reached age 65. Up to 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, and 60% have at least two. According to the BLS, nurses are in demand to care for a growing population of people with chronic diseases.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The BLS projects that job growth for [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/guide-to-nursing-hierarchy/”]nurses at all levels [/hen-ui-link]is expected to grow faster than average because of this demand. The projected job growth includes 135,500 nurse practitioner (NP) jobs and 197,200 RN jobs between 2022 and 2023.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]11 | Nurses Receive Excellent Benefits[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices may offer excellent benefits to attract and keep qualified professionals. For example, a nurse’s median annual salary of $86,070 is well above the average annual salary of all occupations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/travel-nurse/”]Travel nurses[/hen-ui-link] usually receive added benefits for filling an in-demand position on short notice and for the inconvenience of living and working in another city. They usually receive hazard pay or critical staffing pay in addition to the higher average hourly wage that [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/travel-nurse/salary/”]travel nurses earn [/hen-ui-link]compared to staff nurses. These can include benefits to cover travel expenses and a stipend for housing, meals, and other bills.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/registered-nurses-benefits-survey-2020/”]Benefits for nurses[/hen-ui-link] include:[/hen-ui-text]- Paid sick time
- Paid vacation and holidays
- Paid family leave
- [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/different-types-of-nursing-bonuses-explained/#:~:text=Hospitals%20or%20other%20large%20healthcare,dollars%20to%20%241%2C500%20or%20more.”]Bonuses for working extra shifts or when understaffed[/hen-ui-link]
- Health and life insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Retirement benefits
- Wellness programs
- Childcare
- Subsidized travel
- Student loan repayment
- Shift differentials where nurses earn more for working holiday, weekend, or night shifts
[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-heading text-lg”]“Nursing is also a flexible career with so many options. If you don’t like a certain floor or hospital, you can try another one. If you don’t like your current schedule, you can switch it. If you want to further your education and advance your career, there are many ways to do so.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm” tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]— Sarah Brooks, ABSN student[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]13 | Nursing Grads Have Smoother New Hire Transitions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]All nurses experience orientation or onboarding as they move from an academic to a clinical setting after they graduate as a nurse. For many nurses working in large teaching hospitals, this transition may be eased by the hospital’s [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/the-best-residency-programs-for-nurses/”]one-year nurse residency programs[/hen-ui-link] designed to help new nurses successfully transition from school to various [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/work-settings-for-nurses/”]work settings for nurses[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Although there is a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/the-us-nursing-shortage-state-by-state-breakdown/”]nursing shortage across the U.S.[/hen-ui-link], it is still challenging to get a premium job. You can improve your success by working while you’re in school to gain [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/ways-to-get-professional-nursing-experience/”]nursing experience[/hen-ui-link] and complete internships. Nursing students who [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/internships-and-volunteer-opportunities/”]gain volunteer experience[/hen-ui-link] and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/networking-in-nursing/”]network [/hen-ui-link]while in nursing school also have an advantage when it’s time to [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/finding-nursing-jobs/”]apply for their first nursing job.[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]14 | Nurses Collaborate With Different Healthcare Professionals[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses play a unique role in healthcare. They spend a lot of time with patients at the bedside, so they must collaborate with healthcare teams to coordinate patient care and improve outcomes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The bedside nurse is the hub of patient activity. They know the recommendations of each healthcare professional attending to the patient. Nurses need strong organizational and critical thinking skills to understand how each recommendation affects the overall care plan.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]They must also explain the care plan and instructions to patients and their families in an understandable way.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”font-heading text-lg”]“Nurses are often the first person to assess and examine a patient and to come up with differential diagnoses or an assessment of what the problem may be. From there, the nurse lets the attending physician or provider know the outcomes of the assessment.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm” tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]— Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]15 | Nurses Have Many Leadership Opportunities[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The skills you learn caring for patients can help as you apply to a charge nurse role on the unit. [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/what-does-it-take-to-become-an-effective-charge-nurse/”]Charge nurses[/hen-ui-link] must assign patient care and monitor the staff, making adjustments as needed during the shift.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses with strong nursing leadership skills may go on to positions in administration, such as unit managers, [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/clinical-nurse-leader/”]clinical nurse leaders[/hen-ui-link], patient care directors, or [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/chief-nursing-officer/”]chief nursing officers[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can also take advantage of leadership roles in clinical practice, including [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/advanced-practice-nursing/”]advanced practice nurses[/hen-ui-link], [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/clinical-nurse-specialist/how-to-become/”]clinical nurse specialists[/hen-ui-link], and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/nurse-case-management/”]case managers[/hen-ui-link]. Nursing offers several avenues to take additional responsibility and progress up the career ladder.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]16 | Nurses Are at the Forefront of the Telemedicine Movement[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/telehealth-nurse/”]Telehealth nursing[/hen-ui-link] increased significantly during 2020 when healthcare providers began treating patients at home to reduce the spread of COVID-19.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The need for remote telemonitoring for patients in the intensive care unit or at home continues to grow. Remote monitoring can reduce costs for a hospital or physician’s office without sacrificing patient care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are integral to patient consultations, taking patient histories and coordinating care at home. They are often the primary source of health education and monitoring. Incorporating telehealth services has given nurses a new tool to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]A Nurse and a Nursing Student Share Why They Choose a Nursing Career[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/e_grayscale,c_fill,h_300,w_300,g_face/v1668453551/NurseJournal.org/elizabeth-clarke_526530e78c/elizabeth-clarke_526530e78c.jpeg?_i=AA” img-alt=”Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]Elizabeth Clarke is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Her experience spans emergency departments, cardiac units, pediatric urgent care, and occupational health settings. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing and master’s in nursing from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clarke is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Sarah Brooks” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/images/e_grayscale,c_fill,h_300,w_300,g_face/v1701794616/NurseJournal.org/Cassie-Brooks-headshot/Cassie-Brooks-headshot.png?_i=AA” img-alt=”Sarah Brooks” layout=”horizontal” background=”none” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]I’m a mom to three daughters, currently enrolled in an accelerated nursing program. Prior to nursing school, I spent over a decade as a writer and editor in the personal finance niche. While I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve always felt a desire to go back to school to become a nurse. With my youngest starting kindergarten last August, I figured there was no better time for me to take the leap and return to school. My career goals include both working as a nurse and continuing to write and edit in the finance and healthcare spaces.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Sarah is a paid member of the Red Ventures freelance Education Student Network.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What experience of making a difference as a nurse would you share with a prospective student to help them understand how nurses make a difference?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I can remember feeling overwhelmed, working my first holiday shift as a new graduate RN.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It was New Year’s Day, my unit was busy and short-staffed. Patients and family members were short-tempered. I ran from patient room to patient room, getting their medications done relatively on time, monitoring vital signs, and ensuring my post-cardiac catheterization patients remained on bed rest.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I had a patient who needed monitoring, she was very sick, but was waiting on testing. She was frustrated, hungry, and thirsty. She was being kept NPO (nothing by mouth), since her doctors still did not know what was wrong with her.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Every time I passed by her room, she would call out and ask for help, needing reassurance. One of the times I stopped in, she began complaining of severe abdominal pain.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I looked at her abdomen and noticed it was beginning to appear distended. Her face was pale with pain, a fine sheen of sweat forming. I auscultated (listened to with my stethoscope) her abdomen, and heard nothing, no bowel sounds. I palpated her abdomen; it was rock hard.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I called the on-call internal medicine physician covering her that day. I quickly gave him a rundown of my concerns, how she looked, and her growing abdomen.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]He came right up, we examined her together, and he went running to call a stat surgical consult. He asked me to drop an NG (nasogastric tube) down to see if we could decompress her, standard procedure if you suspect someone has an obstruction or ileus. I grabbed my supplies and my health care technician for help.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We went in and quietly explained to our patient what we needed to do, how we needed to help her, that I would try and get her pain under control and we would figure out what was wrong.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]She was clenching her teeth in pain, fear, nausea, all of the above. We started prepping her to put in her NG tube when the surgery resident ran into the room, he began examining her in a brusque manner, pressing hard on her abdomen.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]She cried out in pain, I remember quietly asking him if he would let me give her some IV pain medication quickly to minimize her pain while he finished the exam.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]He gave me a quick nod and then called his attending on his cell phone in front of the patient, saying he needed an OR, stat. He then turned to my tech and me and told us to get her moving to the third floor OR suites now.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It was a tense moment, my patient did not understand what was happening, she was in severe pain, nauseous, and confused.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As we pushed her down the hall, grabbing additional staff for help, following the resident, I quickly told her they suspected a small bowel obstruction that was becoming worse, twisting her intestines, and they were rushing her so they could get her into the OR as soon as possible.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I remember promising her the on-call surgeon was very good, we would help her, and anesthesia would keep her comfortable so she would not feel any pain.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]She asked to hold my hand. She wanted to know if I would be there when she woke up. I told her it depended on the time they finished the surgery, but I promised to tell the recovery room nurses to please hold her hand as they woke her up so she would know she was not alone.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I gave a quick bedside report to the receiving nurse and went back to my unit.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I was working the next day as well, and when I came into my unit, I looked in the system to see where my patient from the day before was. She was in the surgical ICU. I had a busy morning, so later in the afternoon, I asked my charge nurse if I could run down to the SICU to visit my patient, she agreed to watch my beds for me.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When I went into the SICU, I greeted some of my friends who were working and told them about my patient from the day before.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I connected with her nurse, she told me she was doing well, surgery was complicated by a previous liver transplant and lots of scar tissue. She said the surgery report noted the patient was quickly deteriorating and the obstruction was twisting the small bowel.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I went over to my patient’s bed and was surprised to see her awake and very alert. She smiled, reached for my hand, and thanked me. She started to cry, she told me no one had been listening to her when she tried to say something inside her was hurting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]She said she had felt ignored until she got transferred to my unit and I was her nurse. She told me she had felt very scared and discouraged, but when I told her I would take care of her and explained what was going on, she felt safe.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A decade and a half later, this patient is one I always remember even though I have cared for countless others since. I know I made a difference to her and provided excellent nursing care. We often speak of our nurses’ gut — our intuition.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]On that New Year’s Day, I trusted my intuition; I knew something was very wrong. I listened to my patient and trusted my nursing assessment. I am glad I was able to make a difference in her life. She had a successful surgery — she survived — and was discharged to rehab for recovery a week later.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Sarah Brooks, ABSN Student[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In my experience as a nursing student, it’s nurses that make or break a hospital stay. A kind, compassionate nurse who listens to their patients and does their best to meet their needs will be remembered.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]My first shift in clinicals was on a Med-Surg floor specializing in disorders of the respiratory system. I was extremely nervous and had no idea what I was doing medical-wise, but I knew I could at least talk to my patients and provide a sense of comfort.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I had four patients in total and spent about an hour talking with them about why they were admitted to the hospital, how they were feeling, and other details of their lives. When I told them I was leaving for the day, they all individually thanked me for taking the time to sit with them.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Oftentimes, people are alone in the hospital and while they (of course) need medical care, they also sometimes just need a friend and to know that someone cares. As a nursing student, this is something you can do even on your first day.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What reasons do you have for being satisfied with choosing nursing as a career, even amid the challenges in the field right now? Why would you recommend nursing to prospective nursing students?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Nurse Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I love being a nurse practitioner. I am proud to say I am a BSN RN and a family nurse practitioner.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I often have been with people in their hardest moments — when they are at their sickest, most injured, or most scared. I have been able to provide care, answer questions, hold a hand, and save lives.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Being an RN and now an NP has allowed me to fulfill my desire to help others and serve my patients and their families.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I recently saw a reel on a social media platform where the person filming it was speaking about hard times, and how we can choose to be someone’s light during their darkest hour. To me, this is what being an RN is all about.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We can be someone’s light; we are the helpers. At the end of some of my hardest shifts back when I was an RN, the days where I had too many patients, too high of an acuity, and no time to eat, I always knew I was helping.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Without my care, those patients may not have had their medications on time or had their pre-op workup completed, or been recovered from their procedure, or may have fallen when they tried to move from their bed to the bathroom.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When I speak with people and tell them about my job, almost always the response is, ‘Once when I was sick, I had the best nurse take care of me, and I’ll always remember them helping me.’ It is a wonderful feeling to know we have helped.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Sarah Brooks, ABSN Student[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing is a second career for me and is something that had been in the back of my mind for many years. I knew I had to at least give it a shot. From what I’ve experienced so far, the rewards of nursing outweigh the hard times by far.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I, personally, am satisfied with choosing nursing as a career because it’s truly a job that makes a difference.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It’s not always going to feel that way, but when push comes to shove, it is us nurses that the patients will remember. It’s up to us whether their hospital stay is an excellent one or a poor one. I love knowing that I’m directly impacting the lives of patients day in and day out.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing is also a flexible career with so many options. If you don’t like a certain floor or hospital, you can try another one. If you don’t like your current schedule, you can switch it.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you want to further your education and advance your career, there are many ways to do so. There are school nursing, work-from-home nursing jobs, per diem jobs, and more.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While the main thing that drew me to the career was my interest in the medical field and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others, the schedule flexibility and opportunities for advancement helped to solidify my decision.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What do you find exciting about your nursing career?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Nurse Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I work in occupational medicine currently, so while it is not quite as exciting as my days back in the ED or cardiac unit, it does have its moments of excitement and busyness.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]One of the most exciting things about being an RN is that you can work almost anywhere in the medical field.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If working with children interests you, choose pediatrics. If surgery is where your interests lie, think about working in the operating room as a scrub nurse, or in the pre or post-operative units prepping and recovering patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Are you someone who craves an adrenaline rush to keep you on your toes at work? The emergency department is your place then, there is never a boring moment. From overdoses, to accidents, and illnesses, the ED is hopping.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you tire or are burnt out in your chosen area, you can switch to a different area of nursing. Nursing is incredibly versatile. There are many ways to learn new skills and apply the ones you already have. It is one of the most exciting and unique things about nursing, you can be a chameleon and constantly change.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Sarah Brooks, ABSN Student[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The entire job of a nurse is exciting because anytime you walk through the hospital doors, you truly don’t know what you’ll walk into.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You never know if you’ll have a smooth, calm day or a crazy, hectic one. Things can take a turn for the worse at any time and on any floor, so you always need to be prepared and keep an eye on your patients at all times.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]I also get excited thinking about my future as a nurse and what that will look like.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Again, this is a career with so many options and opportunities. I’ve toyed with everything from going back to school to pursue my nurse anesthetist degree (CRNA) to working from home as a nurse writer.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Only time and experience will determine what I’ll land on, but I definitely get excited thinking about all the possibilities.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How would you say about how the nurse’s pivotal role in coordinating patient care with the rest of the healthcare helps make nursing a good career choice?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Nurse Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As nurses, we are constantly in contact with other healthcare professionals. From doctors, NPs, or PAs to therapists (physical, occupational, speech or mental health), to registered dieticians, and more, we must collaborate with other professionals regarding what is best for our patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are often the first people to assess and examine a patient and to come up with differential diagnoses or an assessment of what the problem may be.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]From there, the nurse lets the attending physician or provider know the outcomes of the assessment. In this way, nurses have a unique position to see, assess and call attention to a problem.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are excellent at knowing what other care a patient may need, and how to ask for that help. If a nurse sees a patient struggling to swallow, asking for a referral to speech therapy can help ensure the safety of that patient so they do not aspirate.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are often asked by the provider how the patient is doing and what their needs are – this is an example of the provider realizing the pivotal roles nurses play.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Collaboration in nursing is often mentioned during nursing school, because of this, nurses develop excellent collaboration skills.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing is a great career choice for those who want to help, care, and collaborate for the best outcomes of their patients.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-lg font-heading”]Sarah Brooks, ABSN Student[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are the eyes and ears of the hospital. If something goes wrong, it’s almost always a nurse who catches it first. We are the ones in the hospital 24/7.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Doctors, of course, have a pivotal role in determining treatment plans and helping patients recover, but it’s the nurses who play out the treatment plan, see how the patient is responding, and keep the doctor in the loop on any changes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In my (limited) experience, one thing I’ve really come to learn is that it truly takes a patient care team to treat the patient. All roles are equally necessary and important.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Not only do nurses collaborate with other members of the healthcare team, but also with the family members of the patient. This could be in person or by calling a family member to update them on the status of their loved one.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The nurse not only provides comfort to the patient, but to the family members, as well.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Careers[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What are the reasons for choosing nursing as a career?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most nurses choose to work in the profession to help others live better lives. Whether you work in a hospital, clinic, missionary clinic overseas, administration, or correctional facility, the underlying reason most nurses choose the profession is to help those in need. Another reason is that nursing is a high-paying career with advancement opportunities and flexibility.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How hard is it to become a nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can become a nurse in as little as two years by completing an ADN. You can further advance your career options and salary by earning a BSN degree. You can do this in two years if you already have an RN license, online or in the classroom and while you continue to work. You can also earn an accelerated BSN degree if you hold a bachelor’s in another field.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What qualities do you need to be a nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are compassionate, patient, and understanding. They have strong critical thinking, communication, and organizational skills. You may not have these skills at the start of your nursing education but will develop them in your nursing program and hone them in your practice.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How do I know if nursing is right for me?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you are curious to learn more about health and wellness and have a desire to help others, consider speaking with an admission counselor at your local college or university. You may also want to consider volunteering in a hospital or [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/internships-and-volunteer-opportunities/”]shadowing a nurse[/hen-ui-link] for a shift.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”py-4 my-0 text-center border-b md:pb-8 md:border-none”]You might be interested in[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”3-col” ids=”34070,33931,33957″][/hen-ui-article-row]