Nursing Career
The global healthcare industry is evolving, and as a result, there is an increasing demand for professionals in this field. Nursing is one of the most popular career paths in the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses will grow by 6% from 2022 to 2032 (Source).
The nursing profession is not only fulfilling but also demanding. Nurses spend hours taking care of ailing patients and helping them recover. Along with the challenges of this profession there are many benefits of being a nurse. Some nursing career benefits include advancement scopes, high compensation, possibilities of specializations, and a positive job outlook.
If you intend to make a career in nursing, you must check out the advantages of nursing. This blog explores the reasons and benefits of pursuing a nursing career.
Top 10 Benefits of Being a Nurse
Nurses provide essential patient care in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, patient residences, and nursing homes. They assess patients' physical condition and collaborate with doctors and healthcare providers to create personalized treatment plans.
They also conduct physical examinations, monitor patient health, and provide the needed therapies and medication. Here are the top reasons for nursing aspirants to pursue a career in nursing:
1) Flexible Schedule
- One of the biggest advantages of the nursing profession is its flexible schedule. This is a blessing for nurses with parents and children at home who also need care.
- Nurses can work shifts of 8 hours, 10 hours, or even 12 hours. A nurse working a 10 or 12-hour shift has to work fewer days each week.
- However, when situations demand, nurses must work overtime or change their duties to another floor.
2) Salary and Other Nursing Profession Perks
- There is a high demand for registered and experienced nurses. Hospitals and healthcare facilities hiring qualified, professional nurses offer a good pay package.
- The average annual salary of a registered nurse in India is around INR 4.1 LPA. While entry-level nurses draw an average annual salary of INR 0.8 LPA, experienced nursing professionals draw up to INR 14.4 LPA.
- Other perks and benefits that nurses enjoy include:
- Health and life insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Paid sick time
- Paid family leave
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid vacations
- Childcare
- Certification fees reimbursement
3) Excellent Advancement Opportunities
- One of the major nursing career benefits is that it offers excellent advancement opportunities. Nurses can work in different fields, such as:
- Missionary nurses
- School nurses
- Forensic nurses
- Home health nurses
- Correctional nurses, etc.
- An experienced nurse with a nursing degree and advanced education can reach an advanced practice clinical or managerial position.
- Nurses can earn specialized nurse certifications to progress in their careers. This opens the scope for more opportunities with higher pay packages. Many shift from the clinical field to the administrative field for career advancement.
4) Overtime Pay
- While discussing the nursing profession's perks, overtime pay must be mentioned. Many nurses work extra shifts and earn overtime pay.
- This overtime pay is an additional income source for many nurses, especially during festive times or a financial crunch.
5) Rewarding Career Path
- The nursing profession brings personal fulfillment. Nurses help patients recover faster and make a positive impact on their lives.
- Nurses also care for patients' emotional well-being. This is possible due to the professionals' compassionate and caring nature.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and doctors were ‘healthcare heroes’ because they risked their lives to help patients recover.
6) Traveling Opportunities
- A registered nurse has abundant traveling opportunities. The issue of nurse shortages is global. Traveling nurses bridge this gap and try to fill these shortages.
- Travel nurses are in high demand and earn more than regular nurses. Their pay includes an hourly wage, non-taxed daily allowances, housing money, and travel reimbursements.
- Travel nurses can visit any part of the world and stay like residents. Generally, they stay for 26 weeks. While carrying out their duties, they can explore the place's attractions and enjoy local life.
7) Scope of working with a diverse range of people
- One of the major benefits of being a nurse is that it allows one to work with a diverse range of people daily. This helps the nurse develop an understanding of people and their ways.
- An on-duty nurse has to handle different kinds of patients from varying cultures, races, age groups, ethnicities, and gender demographics.
- In addition to patients, nurses must interact with healthcare providers, specialists, doctors, physician assistants, social workers, nurse practitioners, patient parties, and other professionals.
8) Variety in work
- Nursing jobs are not boring. Their daily work schedules vary, and nurses deal with specific patient groups daily.
- Nurses must be flexible in their approach, depending on the patient's needs. While some patients are easy to deal with, others might be tough.
- Nursing is perfect for professionals who love challenges at work. If you like repeatedly doing the same specialized tasks, nursing might not be the right career for you.
9) Option of choosing or changing specialty
- There is a great opportunity for nurses to work in their areas of interest. Every medical department needs nurses, whether they are in cardiovascular surgery, labor and delivery, dialysis, mental health, or general medicine. Patient care is mandatory in all departments, hence the need for nurses.
- All nurses have basic training, during which they learn the foundation skills of patient care. Nurses then choose their interest area and specialize in it. However, working in a specialty might be tiring, and nurses can change specialties.
- To make the switch, nurses might need additional education in the particular specialty. This can be via a nursing certification course or a workshop. Many nurses have a short apprenticeship period to master the new specialty.
10) Job satisfaction
- Job satisfaction is one of the many reasons for nursing aspirants to choose this career. Caring for ailing people, helping them recover, and seeing them return to normal life is a highly fulfilling experience.
- Career satisfaction brings many benefits, such as improved productivity, reduced stress, and increased happiness. You also tend to develop positive workplace relationships and appreciation for your colleagues and working partners.
Conclusion
There are many nursing career benefits, whether you are a fresher or looking to make a career change. Among the most significant benefits of being a nurse is that it offers professional and personal satisfaction. Nursing profession perks and other benefits also need special mention.
If you intend to make a career in nursing, enroll in the ITM Insitute of Health Sciences Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The four-year course spans eight semesters, including an internship. The program prepares candidates for providing holistic nursing care through theoretical and practical training sessions.
Apply for the program and engage in the noble profession of serving humankind!
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What are the employment opportunities for nurses in the future?
Experienced and registered nurses are in high demand in the healthcare industry globally. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses will grow by 6% from 2022 to 2032 (Source).
2) How to become a nurse after Class 12 board exams?
Candidates intending to become nurses after their Class 12 exams should have Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their main subjects. After clearing the admission test, they can apply for the BSc Nursing course at various medical colleges.
3) What is the period of a BSc nursing program?
According to the standard Indian curriculum, the BSc nursing program takes four years to complete, including the internship period.
4) What essential qualities should a nurse have?
Some essential qualities that a nurse must have are:
- Empathy
- Caring
- Good communication skills
- Stamina
- Attention to detail
- Commitment to helping patients