Nursing benefits will definitely become an important issue for you should you wish to step into this field. First, though, we’d like to mention one thing. Even the recession didn’t make a dent in how badly we need nurses! Therefore, you’re looking at a profession that is packed with safety and security. And that isn’t just true here; it applied to most parts of the world.
Besides job security, you’ll also relish having a flexible schedule. Both are hallmarks of the nursing profession. But that’s not everything because there is more! We decided we’d give you an idea of exactly how much more there could be:
High Salary Packages in Nursing
Sure, the type of your education, the organization you work in, and your location do affect what you earn. Even so, if you bring highly specialized skills and experience to the table, you’d get a good salary. BLS predicts that this year, the gulf between the nurses we need and the staff that we have will widen to 800,000. Of course, it isn’t difficult to see why that is so. We have much longer lifespans as opposed to our ancestors. Therefore, we live longer, and hospitals and medical facilities that make it possible are also developed enough to make that so.
So, you’ll always find healthcare institutions that are looking for nurses. In fact, many of them will even offer you a sign on bonus!
Work in Many Locations
Besides a hefty pay, nursing careers also let you work where it suits you. For instance, you can try a stint at a city hospital if that’s closest to where you live. But you can also go work in the suburbs or in a rural area. Whether you want to switch states or countries, your profession makes it possible for you to do so. In fact, freelance consulting nurses can visit most cities in America and work in one for a few days, weeks, or months. Once you feel you’ve made a difference, pack up, and move again.
Educational Options in Nursing
You may have noticed that for so many careers in the medical field, graduates must sweat, bleed, and spend to get a degree. But that isn’t the case with nurses who can travel the distance from school to full-time employment in just a year!
Say, you have bills to pay off. Well, you can do that and study by grabbing an entry-level job. Then enroll yourself in one of the many Licensed Practical Nursing programs. The LPN doesn’t take too long in completion, i.e., 12-18 months usually. Once you’re done, you are qualified for providing basic care to your patients. Therefore, you may give them injections or take their vital signs.
Personal Satisfaction
Aside from the ease of studying while working, nursing also ups the level of special pride in the work you do. For instance, the American Nurses Association (ANA) study mentions that job satisfaction is usually high among nurses. Even in the populations with lower levels of satisfaction, the culprit isn’t the profession itself. Rather, nursing shortage is the prime reason for complaint.
Now, you can look at in either of the two ways. Either you consider it a disadvantage since you will have to do a lot of overtime. Or, you can enjoy the option of overtime since it also gives you a chance to earn more income.
To sum up, you’ll be working a job that comes with a good professional status, earning money – with or without overtime – and changing somebody else’s life. Is it any wonder that nurses usually have enhanced personal satisfaction? Just look at this 2016 Gallup poll. It mentions that nurses have been deemed the Most Trusted Profession for 15 consecutive years!
The Novelty of Nursing
Surprisingly, working in this field can be very interesting. After all, you’d be a part of diverse patient care areas, help treat patients for a variety of conditions, and be taking care of all types of people. Therefore, you will find each day to encompass a different facet of the human experience. If you’re someone who likes such diversity, the scope of nursing will not disappoint.
Additionally, you’ll discover that there’s always something new that you can learn while working as a nurse. So, the more experience you gain, the more skilled you’ll become at helping patients. The novelty of nursing doesn’t tarnish when it comes to teaching others how to manage their health.
Non-Clinical Jobs
Although most nursing jobs do take you to the acute care setting, that isn’t always where you may end up. Among the non-clinical environs that you can become a part of are various administrative and insurance nurse jobs. Nurses can join schools, laboratories, and insurance companies. Even some of the major corporations hire them. Thus, when you leave hands-on training, you take your skills to a different area. It makes nursing a great stepping stone should you consider switching later in life.
Fringe Benefits in Nursing
Registered Nurses get to enjoy many fringe benefits throughout their jobs. For instance, a large number of employers will pay 100% of your education expenses, so you can continue learning while working with them.
Apart from this, you may also value the free lab work each year that many hospitals offer to their registered nurses. In addition to that, nursing professionals may also enjoy:
- Paid holidays
- Paid-Time off
- Sick leaves
With PTO, you will receive payment even for the hours you have not worked. The math is different and hospital-based. For instance, working for a year may get you between 160-180 hours of PTO in certain hospitals. So, even if you spend that time not working, you still paid for those 15 days!
As evident, nursing is rewarding on multiple fronts. You get great fringe benefits, can serve others, and contribute to making a healthy society. Switching careers or continuing advanced education are also viable options for you. And, if you choose to stick, the pay isn’t insignificant, either! For more on nursing, contact us here!