The Top 5 Benefits of Being a Nurse

“When you’re a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” – Author Unknown

If you’re looking for a life of service and giving back to others, a career in nursing may be the perfect fit. It is one of the most exciting and in-demand jobs of our time. And it is a career that can take you all around the world! All while giving you a sense of purpose. Nursing is also a highly respected profession. In fact, for the 16^th year in a row, Americans have voted nursing as the top profession for honesty and ethics! Let’s examine some of the many benefits of being a nurse.

Always in Demand

The nursing field is one that is always in demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment of registered nurses to rise 15 percent rise between 2016 and 2026 – much faster than the average for all occupations. If you are looking for job security, nursing is the right place to be.

Because we are living much longer, the elderly population is constantly growing and will require more medical care in the coming years. Hospitals and medical facilities are almost always in need of qualified nurses, so the chances of a being laid off as a nurse are minimal. According to the NurseJournal.org, some employers will even pay $10,000 sign-on bonuses and more for the most experienced nurses.

A Rewarding Career Path

Dawn Marino, a Registered Nurse (RN), once said to the American Holistic Nurses Association, “Nurses help people and in doing so, we receive the unmatched satisfaction of knowing that we have made a difference to patients and their families.”

A nurse can enjoy a long and rewarding career of helping those in need – and often, those in pain. They are the key link between doctors and patients, interacting with patients on a daily basis, caring for and attending to their various health needs. This level of patient care – this ability to work so closely with people in need – is something that fulfills a desire in many nurses, to give back to humankind.

The Sky’s the Limit

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses earn an average of $68,450 annually. In Connecticut, though, the median RN salary is over $77,000 a year! Not only does nursing offer great job security, it also presents strong salary potential, with even more room to grow. In nursing, the sky is the limit.

The field of nursing also offers a seemingly countless variety of specialties and work settings. Whether you want to become a legal nurse consultant in an office setting, or get right into the action of a hospital trauma unit, there is an incredible variety of career paths available to nurses. Those with a love for children may choose to work as a school nurse or at a children’s hospital. Someone with experience and care for the elderly may choose to focus on geriatric nursing. Others decide to stay freelance – traveling around the country or even the globe – exploring new cultures while enjoying a rewarding career of care. According to Nurse.org, some of the highest paying nursing jobs are:

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
• General Nurse Practitioner
• Informatics Nurse
• Pain Management Nurse
• Nursing Administrator
• Nursing Educator
• Critical Care Nurse
• Health Policy Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Medical-Surgical Nurse

Different nursing degrees will qualify you for different nursing careers. At Goodwin University, there are several educational pathways you can take towards a career – including Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree options. Hundreds of Goodwin nursing school graduates now work in hospitals and healthcare centers throughout Connecticut, including leading hospitals and facilities such as:

• Backus Hospital
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
• Hartford Hospital
• Middlesex Hospital
• Francis Hospital

Room to Grow

One of the benefits of being a nurse is the ability to grow and advance. Nurses may move into managerial positions as they advance in their career, or transition into more challenging, specialized roles. For example, a nurse who has worked in a labor and delivery room for some time may choose to go back to school, earn their MSN, become a Certified Nurse Midwife, and deliver babies him or herself!

There are many programs at Goodwin University to help aspiring and current nurses advance their careers. Our RN-to-BSN Program, for example, is designed for licensed RNs looking to continue their education. Through this program, nurses can complete their Bachelor’s degree part-time in just 16-months, and take classes fully online! Similarly, Goodwin’s Master’s in Nursing, or MSN degree, is designed for BSN-level nurses looking to move into population health or qualify for a more administrative role. The MSN program can also be completed fully online, in as little as 20 months part-time.

Of course, if you are just beginning your nursing college experience, you can also do so at Goodwin University. Our Associate Degree in Nursing program is specifically designed for students who are new to the nursing field. By the end of this program, you will be fully equipped to become a licensed RN! Click here to learn more about the nursing school at Goodwin University.

Flexibility

Few careers are as flexible as those in the nursing field. Many nurses aren’t nine-to-fivers. Healthcare is needed around the clock! The beauty is, nurses can choose to work when and where they want. Would you like to work part-time, full-time, or freelance? Would you like to work four days on, three days off? How about nights and weekends for family obligations, or a second job? All options are possible in the field of nursing. The nursing programs at Goodwin University are just as flexible. Students have the option to take day or evening classes. Depending on the degree path, nursing courses are offered on-campus, online, or in a hybrid or accelerated format.

Learn more about the various nursing degrees at Goodwin University, or call 800-889-3282 to request more information. You can also see our video for three unexpected skills you gain as a nurse.