For many people, nursing would be the first career option that comes to mind when they are asked to think of a caring career path. Nursing is a career where professionals are able to work in a field that allows them to make a real difference in the lives of the people that they work with on a day-to-day basis. If you are becoming fed up with your current career and do not feel personally satisfied or rewarded with the work that you do, changing to nursing could be the ideal path for you. Nursing is a very highly respected career path all around the world, with great opportunities for career advancement and progression and excellent job security. So, what are some of the main reasons why more and more people are deciding to change from their current career and pursue nursing instead?
High Demand for Nurses:
With a nursing shortage in the US, the demand for nurses is currently higher than ever before. The population is aging at an alarming rate and an increasing number of people in need of healthcare. Hundreds of thousands of new nursing positions are expected to become available in America in the near future. As a result, finding a career as a nurse is set to be easier than ever for those looking to get into this rewarding profession.
Training and Education Options:
Today, those who want to change from their current career and pursue a nursing pathway can find many options when it comes to their training and education. Training to become a nurse is no longer as difficult as it once was. Aspiring nurses are not limited to degree programs where they are required to attend classes in-person on campus and perhaps work fewer hours or even give up their current career for four years while studying to become a nurse. With online nursing degrees growing in popularity, it has become easier than ever for people who want to get into nursing to choose a degree program that they can easily fit around their current work and other commitments. In addition, accelerated BSN programs are also available to study online for would-be nurses who already have a bachelor’s degree qualification in another subject, making it possible for them to save money and time on becoming a nurse by building on the knowledge and skills that they have already gained.
Career Options:
Once trained as a nurse, there are many different career options for graduates to choose from. Nurses are in high demand in every aspect of healthcare, with many positions and roles available from working in the ER with a diverse set of patients to looking after young patients or patients who are suffering from specific health conditions and diseases. In addition, nurses are needed in almost every healthcare setting. While most nurses will work in the hospital, they are also needed in outpatient clinics, doctor’s offices, in the community, schools, prisons, research facilities and more. Whatever kind of work you want to do or people that you would like to work with, finding a suitable role as a nurse is easier than ever.
Career Progression and Advancement:
If you are feeling stuck in a rut in your current career and want a job pathway where you can enjoy many different career progression and advancement opportunities, nursing could be the right choice for you. In this career, there are several different options for taking your career further and working in advanced practice, management, education, and much more. Once you have gained a BSN, you will be able to go and study further to get a master’s degree in nursing, which will qualify you to work in a wide range of more advanced nursing career options including as a nurse practitioner or nurse manager. There are various MSN options available for nurses that have a specific career option in mind for the future such as the Texas Woman’s University’s Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner, a master’s degree in nursing with a focus on getting into this lucrative and high-demand career option. Check out the Texas Woman’s University for more information.
Travel and Work:
Another great reason to consider qualifying as a nurse is that in this career path, it is easy to find work anywhere that you decide to go. Nurses are in high demand all around the country, so if you ever decide to move to a different state, all you’ll need to do is pass the relevant licensing exam for that state in order to quickly find work there. Alternatively, there is the option to find work as a travel nurse, which is ideal for nurses who aren’t ready to settle down in one place yet and want to see more of the country as they work. Travel nurses are often sent to a wide range of different locations where they are needed to meet the high demand for nurses or help out in a period of crisis. Finding work as a nurse does not only extend to the US. While it may be necessary for you to gain further nursing qualifications in order to work as a nurse in certain countries around the world, nursing education is typically universal and nurses are high-demand immigrants in the majority of countries, making it the ideal choice for anybody who’s considering living elsewhere in the world in the future.
Further Study Options:
If you love learning and want a career where you will be able to learn something new on a regular basis, nursing could be the ideal choice for you. As a nurse, you are going to be working in an industry that is constantly changing and advancing, meaning that there are always going to be new challenges to take on and new things to learn for your work. Whether you are learning about new diseases like COVID19, new treatments for conditions, new machinery that is designed to improve standards of patient care or learning specialist nursing areas to improve your career prospects.
Employer Support:
If you are currently working in an area of healthcare and want to change your career to nursing, the high demand for nurses around the country has led to an outpouring of employer support for employees who want to move into this career. More and more employers are offering tuition reimbursement schemes for healthcare professionals that want to change their career to nursing, with employer-sponsored degree programs that will allow you to move into a career as a nurse while saving money on the cost of getting the required qualifications.
Personal Reward and Satisfaction:
Nursing is a popular choice of a career change for people who are looking for a career option that provides them with a high sense of personal satisfaction and reward. There is little that can beat the feeling of knowing that the job that you do is creating a difference in the lives of the people that you are working with. Aside from the excellent rates of pay, great opportunities for career progression, and the chance to continuously learn new things throughout your nursing career, one of the greatest things about this job is that it is hugely personally satisfying and fulfilling. You will be spending your time at work helping your patients through some of the toughest times of their lives and being there for them during situations where they are feeling scared, worried, and in pain. Many patients say that it is the kindness and empathy of a nurse that helped them get through these terrible situations and made it easier for them to recover..
In addition to the personal sense of reward and satisfaction that comes with being able to help others, nursing offers a high level of job satisfaction including flexible working hours, high job security, and a lot of respect from everybody in the community.
How to Succeed With Changing Your Career to Nursing:
Nursing is clearly a popular career change option due to all the main benefits of working in this career. However, changing your career to nursing is not always an easy feat, especially if you plan to continue working full-time and have other commitments to uphold while you are studying for the degree. Here are some tips to keep in mind to make changing your career to nursing easier and avoid getting overwhelmed or burned out during the process.
Choose the Right Degree Program:
It is important to spend some time looking into the various different nursing degree programs that are available for you to study. If you are planning to change your career to nursing and want to study while continuing to work in your current career and upholding other commitments like looking after your family, a flexible online degree program might be the ideal option for you. Along with giving you the option to study from home at times that are most suitable for your current schedule, online degree programs are also an opportunity to save money on the overall cost of getting your nursing degree. While online programs will typically cost around the same as a traditional classroom-based degree program in terms of tuition, they are often cheaper to complete since they do not require students to relocate to campus to study or commute on a regular basis. All you need is a good internet connection (have a look at these Optimum internet plans if you’re looking for a new provider) and a laptop and you’re good to go!
Plan Your Time and Schedule:
If you are planning to change your career to nursing with a flexible online degree, it is important to spend some time planning your future schedule to ensure that you are working with a routine that is ideal for you. Consider the time that you currently have in terms of the work that you do and other commitments that you need to uphold. Rearranging your schedule a little might be necessary to ensure that you have the time to commit to studying for your nursing degree. You might want to have a word with your current employer and let them know about your plans to study so that they can offer the support that you need in terms of the working hours that you are given, for example.
Get Help and Support:
Changing your career to nursing by studying for your nursing degree while working full-time in your current career is no easy task, so be prepared to ask for all the help that you can get. Nursing schools and online colleges will often offer a wide range of support services for students who need that extra help while studying for a degree at the same time as working full-time. You may be able to access help with childcare, for example, or financial support in the form of grants that will enable you to work less hours and dedicate more to studying for your nursing degree.
Accept any offers of help and support that you get from your friends and family. Whether you have relatives and good friends offering to watch your children for more evenings during the week so that you have got more time to study or to come and help you with household chores, you’re going to be glad of the support.
Revisit Your Plans:
Many online nursing degree options are highly flexible and will allow you to change how you are approaching things as and when needed. Over time, it is a good idea to revisit and reevaluate your plans to make sure that they are still working out well for you. Perhaps you’ll find that studying full-time is too much for you and you might find it more suitable to study for a part-time nursing degree program instead. Maybe a structured online degree course isn’t suitable, and you might find it easier to change to an online degree structure that allows you more freedom when it comes to when you want to listen to recorded online lectures and get your work done.
With the demand for nurses on the rise, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of people are deciding to facilitate a career change to nursing to experience the many benefits of this career.
