Finding the right degree to study is not easy for many people. Considering the many different choices available and the fact that your degree will also mean your future career, choosing the right one can be difficult. Of course, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any good courses available that can also provide a great career. One such course that can offer a great career for graduates is nursing.
But aside from it being a good career, being a nurse can also be a satisfying profession and can command a great deal of respect. To help you see why a nursing degree is a great choice, we’ll discuss five reasons why choosing this career path is an excellent choice.
Nurses are in Demand
Probably the biggest and most important reason why a nursing degree is a good option is the fact that nurses are always in demand. In the U.S. alone, it’s expected that the employment of registered nurses will grow by 7% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is faster than the average growth for all occupations, which shows the demand for nurses. But the U.S. is not the only one that has a big demand for nurses. The World Health Organization stated that there is a 5.9 million shortage of nurses worldwide.
There are many aging countries across the globe, which is also why the demand for nurses will continue to increase. Additionally, nurses are not just needed in hospitals, but also doctor’s offices, care centers, schools, and so on. Aside from being in demand, they’re also usually a recession-proof profession. When a country’s economy and job market tanks, nurses aren’t one of the professions that experience job loss. Everyone needs healthcare, even when the economy is not doing well, so there will always be a demand for nurses.
Student Loan Forgiveness
Another good reason why people go for a nursing degree is because of student loan forgiveness. Getting a degree is becoming very expensive as the costs of going to college or university are getting more expensive. Not everyone has the money to pay tuition fees, so getting a student loan to get a degree was the path that many choose to take. The gravest issue with a student loan however is that you have to pay it back once you graduate, which can set you back a lot.
A student loan is one of the biggest reasons why many graduates are having a hard time getting ahead. Most of the time, a big portion of their salary goes to student debt payments. However, if you took out a loan to get a nursing degree, you have a chance to get your student loan forgiven. There are many government programs available that grant student loan forgiveness for getting a nursing degree or even scholarships. The usual requirement to get it is if you work at a government facility for several years. Becoming a Peace Corp nurse or working in impoverished countries. These can also get your student loan forgiven.
There are Diverse Career Options Available
Getting a degree as a nurse doesn’t always mean that you’ll work in a hospital. Nursing is a very diverse field, giving graduates a wide range of career options after getting their degree. You can become a travel nurse, relocating to cities with the highest need for your service. You might even get to go abroad and help manage clinics or educate local staff of other countries. You can also become a research nurse, working with scientists and doctors to research the latest advancements in the field of medicine.
As a research nurse, you’re also one of the first people to know the latest medical developments. Even in hospitals, there are different types of nurse jobs. There’s the ER Nurse, Critical Care Nurse, Surgical Nurse, and so on. Evidently, there are different types of nurse jobs that you can get into after you get your degree.
Flexible Working Hours
Though many nurses usually work long hours, the profession has one of the most flexible schedules available. As a nurse, you have the freedom to choose your working hours. You can work in the morning, midday, evening, or even the graveyard shift. You also have the freedom in deciding the days that you will work, whether it’s during the weekends or the weekdays.
You can choose to work 2 consecutive days and then take a day off or 3 consecutive days and then 2 straight days off. Surely, there will be days where hours will be long and the schedule a bit hectic. Like during this period, as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. But most of the time you have the freedom to decide on your schedule.
Nursing Can be a Satisfying Career
The last reason why many people chose to get a nursing degree is that a nursing career can be very satisfying. As a nurse, you save lives daily. You monitor the patients, making sure they’re getting the proper care that they need. Besides helping out in the hospital, many nurses also do volunteer work, going to impoverished communities. They provide care to people who are sick and in need but don’t have the means to go to a hospital.
Yes, there will also be a lot of heartbreaking moments, stress, and exhaustion. But these things are going to be a learning experience for you. And there will also be amazing and happy moments, which can make being a nurse all the more satisfying.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses
FelbryCollege.edu, Why Nursing is a Great Career Choice
NurseJournal, 25 Reasons To Choose a Career in Nursing
Purdue Global University, 10 Reasons to Become a Nurse
World Economic Forum, On World Health Day, new report says the world needs 6 million more nurses