Why Nursing?
The field of nursing has grown vast and wide employing people from various backgrounds. Whether you are in the midst of your undergraduate career
with an undeclared major …
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Nursing • Education • Finance
Ginika E.
Last Updated: November 7, 2023
The field of nursing has grown vast and wide employing people from various backgrounds. Whether
you are in the midst of your undergraduate career with an undeclared major or a 50 year old engineer
interested in a new field, nursing is for everyone. It may even be for you. Today, I am going to share
with you, “Why Nursing” may be a good choice.
1. Caring for People in Their Most Vulnerable State
A commonality amongst nurses is the desire to improve patient health. Either through administering
medication or connecting patients to social workers, nurses are always providing care in some way.
This work is not only fulfilling, but it is empowering.
As nurses, we meet people during a vulnerable time in their life. Clients are dealing with physical
ailments, mental health issues, and other ills. As nurses, it is our job to provide pharmacologic therapy
and care enriched with empathy and compassion so our clients know they are not alone in this process.
During my brief time on a stroke unit, I was assigned a middle-aged male post-stroke. It was evident he
developed aphasia and struggled to perform tasks independently. To provide apt patient care, we
demonstrated patience, empathy and compassion to ensure we best fulfilled his needs. Over a number
of weeks, this patient experienced a steady incline in health.
He was able to communicate his thoughts more clearly, perform more tasks and ambulate with an
assistive device. These moments are so special because we are present throughout the journey.
We receive patients in need of medical aid and assist them until they are able to operate more
independently and that is one of the best parts about being a nurse.
2. Job Outlook
As you may know, the Covid-19 pandemic was devastating to the healthcare system. With the constant
influx of ill patients, nurses became easily overwhelmed and burned out resulting in a mass exodus.
According to NCSBN, approximately 100,000 nurses exited the workforce over the pandemic period. Data
further shows by 2027, approximately 900,000 nurses will leave the workforce. That is almost one for every
five nurses leaving the profession. Now more than ever, nurses are in need.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for Registered Nurses, over the next decade,
is projected to grow at 6%. A 6% growth in positions for Registered Nurses is considered ‘faster than
average’ and is representative of this job’s high demand.
Registered Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, September 6). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered- nurses.htm
The healthcare industry has a perpetual need for workers. As our population ages, hospitals, clinics
and other facilities will require more staff to care for clients. Due to this need, there is and will be more
roles available for healthcare workers, especially nurses.
3. Job Variety
If you received your nursing license today, what specialty would you enter? Med-Surg? Intensive Care
Unit? Emergency Department? Labor and Delivery? Inpatient or Outpatient? Well, while you may not
know what specialty is for you or if nursing is even the profession for you, this field offers a plethora of
options. A literal plethora.
During my time in nursing school, one could not go five minutes without this question asked. Peers were
curious and I can not lie, I was one of them (hehe 😚). Regardless of whether students knew what they
wanted to do or not, we all shared the understanding that there was space to grow and change because
our chosen profession allows for it.
In my obstetrics clinical rotation, I was fortunate to meet a wonderful nurse that acquired experience in
multiple specialties. Previously, she worked on a med-surg unit, pivoted to school nursing and
subsequently made her way into labor and delivery.
Not only was she well rounded, but she garnered enough skill to take on any challenge presented to her.
Nursing is not a field of boxing people in. You are free to roam into different areas until you find your best fit.
Additionally, nurses are not bound to working in the hospital. As a nurse, you have the opportunity to
work in a clinic, a school, a tech company such as Tesla and in many other facilities. There truly is no limit
to the kind of nurse you can be. Just dream big!
4. Flexibility
For many, the ideal work-life balance is hard to achieve. Working 40 hours over the five day work week
often leaves us drained, fatigued and looking forward to sleeping in every weekend.
While most jobs have adopted the typical five day work week, the field of nursing is distinguished by its
three day work schedule. Yes, three days! Many nurses work three – twelve hour shifts for three weeks in a
month and four – twelve hour shifts during one week.
This style is standard in the hospital setting, however, it’s not the only option. There are healthcare facilities
that offer a five day – eight hour schedule. Shift length and number of workdays per week vary by hospital
and clinic.
The choice to work three – twelve hour shifts per week is the true definition of flexibility as it grants
nurses the freedom to engage in other activities. Nobody was created for the sole purpose of work.
Oftentimes, the five day work schedule cultivates a rigid, inflexible routine that is difficult to amend.
Nevertheless, as a nurse, you have the opportunity to create your own routine. Whether you’ve decided
to take a short road trip with friends or spend the day watching your favorite Netflix series, having four days
of freedom gives you the room to explore life outside of work.
For some, this can mean spending more time with your children or starting your own business. All in all,
the opportunities are endless!
5. Travel
Over the past couple years, travel nursing has become the buzz of the nursing world. With numerous
articles highlighting nurses that earned $200,000 in a single year, this segment of nursing drew many
eyes.
Travel nursing is a specialty that enables nurses to work on contract with healthcare facilities (normally
hospitals) locally or out of state for a set period of time. This means that a nurse licensed in Virginia can
work as a nurse in the state of Texas on contract for 13 weeks (on average, contracts last 13 weeks).
Travel nursing can be done independently, but it is common for nurses to sign up with a staffing
agency before they engage in a contract.
Travel nursing is not limited to specific specialties like Med-Surg or ICU. There truly is a space for every
kind of nursing. For example, there are positions for Labor and Delivery, Psychiatric, Home Health,
Oncology, Operating Room, Neonatal ICU and many more.
Travel Nursing became increasingly popular during the pandemic as hospitals received an overwhelming
inflow of ill patients. Most healthcare facilities did not have a sufficient number of equipment or staff to care
for patients. In order to increase staff, many facilities raised their pay, earning travel nurses
multiple thousands per week.
Even though travel nursing can be an amazing option for some, it is important to recognize that pay is
determined by demand. During the pandemic, the salary for travel nurses was the highest it’s ever been due
to the severe staffing shortage. However, as the pandemic leveled out, salaries did as well.
Why Nursing?
The field of nursing has grown vast and
wide employing people from various
backgrounds. Whether you are in the
midst of your undergraduate career…
Ginika E.
Last Updated: November 3, 2023
Welcome to The Community!
Stay up to date with our latest posts, receive exclusive deals, and more.
The field of nursing has grown vast and
wide employing people from various
backgrounds.
Whether you are in the midst of your
undergraduate career with an undeclared
major or a 50 year old engineer interested
in a new field, nursing is for everyone. It
may even be for you.
Today, I am going to share with you, “Why
Nursing” may be a good choice.
1. Caring for People in Their Most Vulnerable State
A commonality amongst nurses is the
desire to improve patient health. Either
through administering medication or
connecting patients to social workers,
nurses are always providing care in some
way.
This work is not only fulfilling, but it is
empowering.
As nurses, we meet people during a
vulnerable time in their life. Clients are
dealing with physical ailments, mental
health issues, and other ills.
As nurses, it is our job to provide
pharmacologic therapy and care enriched
with empathy and compassion so our
clients know they are not alone in this
process.
During my brief time on a stroke unit, I
was assigned a middle-aged male post-
stroke. It was evident he developed
aphasia and struggled to perform tasks
independently.
To provide apt patient care, we
demonstrated patience, empathy and
compassion to ensure we best fulfilled his
needs. Over a number of weeks, this
patient experienced a steady incline in
health.
He was able to communicate his
thoughts more clearly, perform more tasks
and ambulate with an assistive device.
These moments are so special
because we are present throughout the
journey.
We receive patients in need of medical aid
and assist them until they are able to
operate more independently and that is
one of the best parts about being a nurse.
2. Job Outlook
As you may know, the Covid-19 pandemic
was devastating to the healthcare system.
With the constant influx of ill patients,
nurses became easily overwhelmed and
burned out resulting in a mass exodus.
According to NCSBN, approximately
100,000 nurses exited the workforce over
the pandemic period.
Data further shows by 2027,
approximately 900,000 nurses will leave
the workforce. That is almost one for every
five nurses leaving the profession. Now
more than ever, nurses are in need.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the job outlook for Registered
Nurses, over the next decade, is projected to grow at 6%.
A 6% growth in positions for Registered
Nurses is considered ‘faster than average’
and is representative of this job’s high
demand.
The healthcare industry has a perpetual
need for workers. As our population ages,
hospitals, clinics and other facilities will
require more staff to care for clients.
Due to this need, there is and will be more
roles available for healthcare workers,
especially nurses.
3. Job Variety
If you received your nursing license today,
what specialty would you enter? Med-Surg?
Intensive Care Unit? Emergency Department?
Labor and Delivery? Inpatient or Outpatient?
Well, while you may not know what
specialty is for you or if nursing is even the
profession for you, this field offers
a plethora of options. A literal plethora.
During my time in nursing school, one
could not go five minutes without this
question asked. Peers were curious and
I can not lie, I was one of them (hehe😚).
Regardless of whether students knew
what they wanted to do or not, we all
shared the understanding that there
was space to grow and change
because our chosen profession
allows for it.
In my obstetrics clinical rotation, I was
fortunate to meet a wonderful nurse that
acquired experience in multiple
specialties.
Previously, she worked on a med-surg unit,
pivoted to school nursing and
subsequently made her way into labor and
delivery.
Not only was she well rounded, but she
garnered enough skill to take on any
challenge presented to her.
Nursing is not a field of boxing people in.
You are free to roam into different areas
until you find your best fit.
Additionally, nurses are not bound to
working in the hospital. As a nurse, you
have the opportunity to work in a clinic, a
school, a tech company such as Tesla and
in many other facilities.
There truly is no limit to the kind of nurse
you can be. Just dream big!
4. Flexibility
For many, the ideal work-life balance is
hard to achieve. Working 40 hours over the
five day work week often leaves us
drained, fatigued and looking forward to
sleeping in every weekend.
While most jobs have adopted the typical
five day work week, the field of nursing
is distinguished by its three day work
schedule. Yes, three days!
Many nurses work three – twelve hour
shifts for three weeks in a month and
four – twelve hour shifts during one week.
This style is standard in the hospital
setting, however, it’s not the only option.
There are healthcare facilities that offer a
five day – eight hour schedule. Shift
length and number of workdays per
week vary by hospital and clinic.
The choice to work three – twelve hour
shifts per week is the true definition of
flexibility as it grants nurses the freedom
to engage in other activities. Nobody was
created for the sole purpose of work.
Oftentimes, the five day work schedule
cultivates a rigid, inflexible routine that
is difficult to amend.
Nevertheless, as a nurse, you have the
opportunity to create your own routine.
Whether you’ve decided to take a short
road trip with friends or spend the day
watching your favorite Netflix series,
having four days of freedom gives you the
room to explore life outside of work.
For some, this can mean spending more
time with your children or starting your own
business. All in all, the opportunities
are endless!
5. Travel
Over the past couple years, travel nursing
has become the buzz of the nursing world.
With numerous articles highlighting nurses
that earned $200,000 in a single year,
this segment of nursing drew many eyes.
Travel nursing is a specialty that enables
nurses to work on contract with healthcare
facilities (normally hospitals) locally or out
of state for a set period of time.
This means that a nurse licensed in
Virginia can work as a nurse in the state of
Texas on contract for 13 weeks (on
average, contracts last 13 weeks).
Travel nursing can be done independently,
but it is common for nurses to sign up with
a staffing agency before they engage in a
contract.
Travel nursing is not limited to specific
specialties like Med-Surg or ICU. There truly
is a space for every kind of nursing. For
example, there are positions for Labor and
Delivery, Psychiatric, Home Health,
Oncology, Operating Room, Neonatal ICU
and many more.
Travel Nursing became increasingly
popular during the pandemic as hospitals
received an overwhelming
inflow of ill patients.
Most healthcare facilities did not have a
sufficient number of equipment or staff to
care for patients. In order to increase
staff, many facilities raised their
pay, earning travel nurses multiple
thousands per week.
Even though travel nursing can be an
amazing option for some, it is important to
recognize that pay is determined by
demand.
During the pandemic, the salary for travel
nurses was the highest it’s ever been
due to the severe staffing shortage.
However, as the pandemic leveled out,
salaries did as well.