The nursing profession has long been regarded as providing an invaluable service to humanity and is one of the most important roles within healthcare. The skills required to excel in this field extend far beyond academics and technical training and include such qualities as compassion, care and a good bedside manner.

Nursing offers the potential for a highly rewarding career and is one of the sectors within healthcare that continues to be high in demand. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Registered Nursing is listed among the top occupations in terms of job growth and is expected to grow from three million in 2019 to 3.3 million in 2029.

If you would like to make a difference within the healthcare profession and are considering entering this profession, you can now do so with direct entry MSN programs. In this article, we will outline some of the many benefits of beginning a career in nursing.

Job Satisfaction

Working as a nurse is one of the few jobs today that can provide you with a meaningful career. Knowing that the work you do each day has a direct impact on your patients lives and is making a positive difference can ensure you feel valued in your role. Being able to nurse patients back to full health after life threatening illnesses and injuries is something that patients and their loved ones value. Being recognized for the work you do by the community and the medical profession at large can provide a huge sense of job satisfaction.

High Demand

With the highly transferable skills you will learn as a nurse combined with the high demand for these services there is no shortage of work in this field. According to recent figures, the U.S. is currently facing a critical nursing shortage that is expected to continue through 2030. With such a scarcity of skilled professionals, nursing professionals can expect to benefit from a large choice of roles along with  job security throughout their career path.

Opportunities to Specialize

As with doctors who specialize in specific fields of medicine such as pathology, neurology or family medicine, nurses also have the opportunity to specialize in particular fields. Not only does this allow you to choose a field you are interested in, but it also offers the potential to deepen your knowledge and expertise in this area, and to contribute to research and projects within your chosen field of specialization. Below are some of the specialties to choose from:

  • Cardiac care
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency room (ER)
  • Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
  • Flight nurse
  • Gastroenterology
  • Geriatric
  • Forensic

Patient Advocate

Being a nurse you will also have the opportunity to advocate on behalf of your patients. Doctors do not always have the time nor the bedside manner to sit down with their patients and explain the complexities of their diagnosis in a helpful way, nor address their questions or concerns. Such issues are often dealt with by nurses who are there to support their patients in more than one way, offering them a more holistic style of healthcare.

With the information provided in this article you can now make a well-informed decision about beginning your career in this rewarding and dynamic profession.