Why Nursing is One of the Most Satisfying Professions
Despite the demands and inherent challenges of Nursing, nurses willingly dedicate a lot of time and energy to their careers. Why? Because nursing is also considered one of the most rewarding and satisfying jobs in healthcare. In fact, according to one study, the majority of registered nurses love the fact that they can make a real difference in people’s lives and report overall job satisfaction.
Nurses go into healthcare for a reason–they care about people. The health and wellness of their patients matter to them, and they have a shared goal of improving their current predicament. Their job allows them to do that, and that’s a big draw for a lot of nursing students.
In short, beyond being a reliable and stable career, nursing is also a personally rewarding profession. Let’s explore why.
1. Opportunity to Explore Various Fields
A career in nursing offers many options to apply your expertise across numerous settings—from hospitals and physician’s offices to clinics, nursing homes, schools, and even corporate offices. In the hospital alone, nurses can choose administrative positions or enter more fast-paced environments like the ER or critical care. There are also different specializations that span everything from pediatrics to psychiatry; and a lot of advancement opportunities to look forward to as well.
It’s quite rare to find these many options in a single profession, which makes nursing very appealing to prospective students.
2. Serving the Community and Making a Difference
Altruism has been cited as one of the top reasons nurses choose the career. As a nurse, you’re tasked with caring for others—members of your community who are in need or vulnerable. Nurses are in a unique position to make a real difference in others’ lives by providing expert care during times of need. Case in point, one study notes that while most nurses report overall satisfaction with the quality of care they are able to provide patients, some still feel that they don’t spend enough time with patients.
Beyond demonstrating medical and technical expertise as a nurse, there are also instances where the job demands nurses to play the role of a trusted confidante; other times when they become a reliable source of comfort when a patient passes away. In more joyful circumstances, they are a big part of welcoming new life into the world. Nurses intrinsically become linked to their patients’ most meaningful moments and milestones, with job satisfaction that is hard to find elsewhere.
3. Constant Learning
Nurses must have a genuine thirst for knowledge in a constantly evolving healthcare industry. There are numerous conditions to learn and understand how to treat, new technology being introduced to help manage illnesses and diseases better, and scientific breakthroughs to learn about. This opens up many opportunities for nurses to continuously learn and gain experience while sharing this knowledge and applying it in practice.
4. Challenging Job That Demonstrates Expertise
A nurse’s ability to apply their expertise and education is a big contributing factor to job satisfaction. Nursing is fast-paced, demanding, and high-pressure. For many nurses, this is the kind of pace they thrive in. It allows them to use their education and skills to exhibit their ability to make fast, informed, and impactful decisions when necessary.
5. Numerous Perks That Come with the Job
Nurses pursuing a career at a hospital normally have to follow a shifting schedule. These daily schedules can be fairly flexible. In most hospitals, nurses usually work three consecutive 12-hour shifts but are given four days off, which allows for longer and more focused personal time (e.g., family time, personal hobbies, etc.). Salaries and healthcare benefits for nurses are also generous, with most enjoying a fairly comfortable standard of living on top of numerous advancements for earning potential and career growth.
6. Job Security
Nursing is primed for growth in the coming years due to an aging population and a rising need for care providers. The job market will be plentiful for nurses in the coming years, with expected consistent growth for the profession until 2029. While job prospects may be bleak in other industries due to the current economic climate, the need for competent, highly skilled and trained nurses continues to rise, highlighting the job security of this field. Nurses will always be a vital part of the healthcare system—with many considering them the heart and soul of a hospital.
If you’re looking to pursue a career in nursing, visit our website to learn more about our nursing program.
