Josh Wardini https://healthcareers.co 2m 624
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Choosing A Nursing Career
Many people who choose to be a nurse do so because of their altruistic, caring nature and their earnest desire to make a difference. They want to help people when they are most vulnerable – when they are sick.
The new numbers depicting the nursing industry reveal an incredible shortage of nurses around the world even though there are some 19.3 million midwives and nurses in the world. The UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands are among those countries where the situation is most alarming. The situation contributing to the shortage is, in part, due to the human lifespan, which is now much longer then it used to be.
In the world where people on one side of the earth are dying from starvation and dreadful living conditions while on the other the same thing is happening because of the obesity, diabetes, and heart attacks, there is someone we have all needed or will need at some point in our lives – a nurse.
So what makes nurses so important?
The Reasons for Becoming a Nurse
In a nutshell, they are numbers depicting the nursing industry when our health takes a plunge. Nurses do the nitty-gritty of the patient’s care, they are there around the clock, they stand up for their patients, they talk to them and their loved ones, they save lives.
Often, they are not just nurses but are a shoulder to cry on and somebody who will quietly listen to their patients when they feel alone and vulnerable. For some who enter this world, it is this part in particular that makes the hard and tough parts bearable and worthwhile.
Naturally, considering the serious deficit of nurses throughout the world (9 million nurses are needed), the job opportunities are numerous. However, it is not necessary to work only in hospitals, which are one of the most stressful environments to work in, as one could also opt to work in clinics, private practices, homes for the elderly, or become educators themselves.
Bearing all this in mind, it is not surprising to learn that the earning potential is considerable, especially if you decide to invest more in your education. The APRNs earn the most, around $110,930, but nurse practitioners, clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators, and supervisors all earn more than $70,000.
As expected, location also plays an important role as nurses working in metropolitan areas usually earn more than those in rural areas. On the other hand, stress levels are considerably lower in towns and rural places than in the cities. For some, this can be far more important than the paycheck at the end of the month.
Further benefits of becoming a nurse certainly include the possibility of flexible hours. Naturally, this is highly dependent on the employer, but it is possible to decide that only working on-call or part-time is an option for you. This might be particularly appealing for those raising a family or having multiple jobs.
Alternatively, a person might decide on 12-hour shifts (usually three consecutive days) and then also have four days off.
Yet another appealing part of being a nurse is that learning is an ongoing process. They always learn new things or deal with situations not previously experienced. Of course, learning also means advancing one’s career by deciding to study for a higher degree.
Conclusion
Deciding to train as a nurse can be a great choice; hard, demanding and stressful, but amazing nonetheless. Of course, it is necessary to consider the job from all the angles and weigh the pros and the cons. Yet, the fact remains that being a nurse is one of the core jobs in human society and one that has an incredible and long-lasting impact for both the nurse and the patient.
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