Nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions across every industry in the United States, and for good reason.
Extensive career opportunities await the future heroes of our medical community over the coming decade.
From any one of several entry-level positions to more advanced roles for registered nurses (RN), you can find fulfillment in the flexible and highly respected nursing vocation.
Still, need some convincing? Let’s break down 7 reasons why nursing should be at the top of your future career choices!
1. Nurses Make a Positive Impact
Think about the last time you walked into a clinic or hospital. After you got past the front desk, who was the first person to greet you?
Nurses are the front-line superstars of the medical community. That’s because few other professions incorporate the support and education of fellow humans quite like nursing.
As a nurse, you can make a difference in your patients’ lives while performing any one of these responsibilities:
- Provide patient care, including medication and monitoring
- Assist senior staff with advanced medical procedures
- Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals
- Give emotional support to patients and their families
- Document treatments and medical histories
Let’s face it — injuries and serious illnesses can be scary, but nurses help give hope to patients and their families who may be staring down an uncertain future. As a trusted medical professional, you can be a light to help guide them through it.
2. Nurses are in High Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects that we will need nearly 200,000 new nurses by 2031. That’s a six percent increase from 2020 to 2023.
Why the significant demand? As of early 2020, nearly 400,000 of America’s hospital-based nurses were 55 or older. So a lot of nurses will be retiring by the end of the 2020s, but we’ve only scratched the surface of the big picture.
Of the 80 million baby boomers in the United States, about 75 percent suffer from at least one chronic disease. That means most seniors will require long-term and hospital-based care in the coming years, ensuring that nursing will be one of the most stable careers in the coming decades.
3. Nursing Offers Divergent Career Paths
For many people, nursing probably projects a mental image of someone taking a patient’s vitals while wearing colorful scrubs. Yet, the truth is that nurses can pursue dozens of specialized jobs!
For example, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, you could be eligible for any of these postings as an RN:
- Hospitals
- Home care services
- Private practice doctor’s offices
- Insurance providers
- U.S. Military
- Travel nurse
- Nurse manager
- Case manager
- Research nurse
- Nurse educator
These are just a sample of the possible career paths available to you with a degree in nursing. Many more opportunities await the next generation of nurses!
4. Nurses Enjoy Competitive Salaries and Benefits
If the price of eggs as we write this is any indication, a competitive salary is more important than ever!
Aiding your fellow humans may be the flame that draws you to nursing, but here’s the best part: you don’t have to sacrifice a comfortable living to do it!
While the median annual salary varies by state, the average American RN made over $77,000 in 2021, while a licensed practical nurse (LPN) made about $48,000.
Nursing also consistently ranks among one of the best professions for benefits packages, including:
- Paid sick leave
- Holiday leave
- Retirement
- Paid vacation
- Wellness programs
- Childcare
- Student loan reimbursement
- Subsidized commuting
Other specialized jobs, such as travel nurse, will often offer housing stipends and cover travel expenses.
As the nationwide demand for nurses continues to climb, so will compensation!
5. Nursing Has Plenty of Placement Opportunities
Ready to get away from the frigid northern winters or brutal Southwest summers? Or perhaps you’d like to explore the beautiful Alleghany Highlands? Good news! Another reason to consider nursing is that nurses are needed almost everywhere.
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed a report concerning the national nursing shortage. They determined states like California, Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Illinois will have some of the highest demand for nurses by 2030.
Basically, that means as a nurse, your career will give you the freedom to transplant just about any region in the country!
Check out this map to find some of the other hiring hotspots for registered nurses in the United States.
6. Nursing is Respected
Since long before the pandemic, nursing has been considered the most trusted profession in the eyes of the American public.
In fact, since Gallup started their ethical profession poll, nurses have taken the top spot every year since 2001!
As a nurse, rest assured that most of your patients will trust your expertise to help them find comfort in their pain.
7. Nursing Degrees are More Flexible Than Ever
Life is busy. You may ask yourself, “When will I ever find the time to chase a nursing degree?”
But did you know you can now pursue a nursing degree online? It’s true!
These nationally recognized organizations have helped make accredited online nursing degrees possible:
- National Leauge for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Hybrid and online programs allow you to select classes that accommodate your busy schedule.
Accelerated programs for both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees are also readily available if you’re eager to start your nursing career ASAP!
Your Nursing Career is Just a Click Away
As a nurse, you can directly touch the lives of countless individuals and make a difference in their health and well-being. Today, it’s easier than ever to earn a nursing degree, and Davis & Elkins wants to invest in you.
You can learn around your busy schedule and reach your professional goals through one of our exciting programs:
- ACEN-accredited Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and LPN-ASN program
- NLN CNEA-accredited traditional and accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs
- 100% online RN-BSN program accredited through NLN CNEA
The road of life can be bumpy, but we believe making your nursing dream a reality shouldn’t be.
Click here for more information about earning your nursing degree!
