Nursing has always been a popular career choice and even in 2021, it still is. Despite COVID-19 taking over the nation, nurses worked tirelessly day and night to help those in dire need of medical attention. Nurses require compassion, resilience, and integrity. If you believe you have what it takes, take a look at why nursing is still a fantastic career choice in 2021.
Nurses Have Job Stability For Life
If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that nurses are always needed. Unlike some jobs that have been taken over by big companies or machines, nurses will always be an integral part of society. Patients need that human connection that only healthcare professionals such as nurses can give them.
During the pandemic, there has never been a larger outcry for nurses. No matter where you go in the world, nursing is a career that you can take with you. Simply looking online for nursing jobs will show you just how many jobs there are, and this is something that will never change. With an ever-growing population and improved healthcare keeping patients alive for longer than ever before, the need for nurses in all sectors will only continue to grow.
Nursing is Rewarding
If a regular office job is not something you are interested in, nursing can provide plenty of rewarding and fulfilling experiences. No matter who you speak to about being a nurse, you will receive admiration, trust, and respect, as everyone has had some contact with a nurse during their lives. Especially in 2020 and 2021, the impact of nurses has never been greater in society.
In the UK, millions of people clapped for the NHS workers, including nurses, to show their appreciation for everything they have been doing during the pandemic. Not only will you receive this respect from others, but you will also get to experience rewards for the care you give.
The look in a patient’s eye when you can tell them they can go home, or the thanks you get from a family who watched you care for their relative on the brink of death, does not go unnoticed. Whilst nursing can be a hard career, you will not find many careers that are as emotionally and spiritually rewarding as this. Even after the longest of days, looking back and remembering these times will make it all worth it.
Nursing Knowledge is Essential in All Situations
Being a nurse gives you skills that are just as great outside of work. Most people do not know basic first aid, what to do if somebody has a seizure, or how to give CPR. In an emergency situation in the real world, you may well save someone’s life with your knowledge and skills. These skills are even handier if you have a family member or a friend who isn’t well. For them, knowing you have the knowledge and skillset to care for them will give them plenty of confidence that they are in safe hands.
You Can Even Study Online
Online degrees have only increased in popularity, especially in 2021. As many were worried to go back to university and college life, an online degree gives you peace of mind that you can do your studying from home. Whilst you will still need to go to placements in hospitals or community settings, studying online has plenty of benefits, especially if you have other things going on in your life. For those with children, being able to watch lectures and study after 7 pm is a great advantage to online study.
Career Prospects
Once you have gained your nursing qualifications, your learning and career prospects do not need to stop there. In nursing, there is always a new field or a higher qualification to gain. This allows you to shape your career path in any way you want. For example, nurse practitioners are highly sought after in nearly every state and this route gives nurses the opportunity to learn how to diagnose illnesses.
Even when you first start out, there are plenty of avenues to study in, including:
- adult
- pediatric
- mental health
- learning disabilities
Once you are qualified and have experience in nursing, you can then choose a field to go into, such as:
- oncology
- renal
- neurology
- theatres
- neonatal
- geriatric
- critical care
- orthopedic
After a few years, you can study for a master’s degree, so you can begin to lead other nurses. Some nurses come out of hospital work and choose to work in doctor surgeries or health clinics. Nurses who have plenty of experience can get a teaching degree, where they can teach in universities and lead new student nurses into the world of healthcare. With so many options to choose from, you will find your nursing niche in no time.
Every Day is Different
With nursing, you will never find that one day is the same as another. With different patients, different conditions, and new wards to work on, there is plenty to do. While some of the job will remain the same, you will be always be learning. An average day of a nurse is always different, and you will often rotate from doing day or night shifts. You will always be busy, whether getting medications, helping doctors with examinations or testing, or assisting in washing and caring for your patients.
You Can Adapt Nursing Around Your Lifestyle
Nursing is no 9-5 job. For people who have children or other commitments, this may seem daunting but actually, there are many shift patterns that work well around childcare and other commitments. You can work longer days, which are usually around 12-13 hours shifts. This means you will only work three days out of seven. This gives you four days off to spend with family or doing anything else that you choose.
For some nurses, night shifts work better for them around their life and childcare, meaning they can finish in time to take their children to school and sleep in the daytime whilst the house is empty. Not all wards do long shifts, and there is the option to work early or late shifts, which are eight hours. When looking for a job after qualifying, look forwards or jobs that can work around your life. As nurses are in such need, you will find most jobs are happy to work around you and your commitments.
You Can Travel
Nursing can take you anywhere in the world, literally. There is no corner of the world that does not need a nurse and if you have the experience or speak the language, you will be welcomed far and wide for your skills. This means even if you and your family wanted to relocate, you would have plenty of options. There are also other jobs that nurses can do that involve traveling if that is something you want to do. Now that travel restrictions are lifting, nurses will be needed on cruise ships, in holiday parks, and on airplanes caring for poorly patients who need to get back home.
There is No Age Limit
Many nurses, especially now, do not go into the career at the age of 18 and straight from school. If your age is putting you off, there really is no age limit to when you can apply. Sometimes, having that experience or having your own children can make you an even better nurse. If you aren’t happy in your chosen career and you have always aspired to be a nurse, it is never too late. Perhaps 2021 can become your year where your nursing dreams come true. Even those who already have a degree can still complete a nursing degree.
What Does it Take to Become a Nurse?
Whilst nursing is a fantastic career choice, nobody ever said it was easy. You will need to be compassionate, hardworking, and open-minded to get ahead as a nurse. There will be plenty of times where you need to stay late to help with a patient and having that determination is what will get you far in your nursing career. Being caring means you can touch lives and help patients to feel at ease whilst in your care.
As each day in nursing can be different, you need to keep an open mind and a keen eye. You may be learning something new every day for the first few years of your career. Alongside this, you will also need good mathematical skills, as you will need to calculate medicine doses. You must be a people person and a good team player. If you think you have what it takes, nursing is a fantastic and worthwhile career.
Nursing is still a fantastic career in 2021 and with endless job opportunities and continuous job growth, you can rest easy knowing your job will always be safe if you have a nursing degree. No matter where you want to live, you can take nursing with you. Nursing jobs can be adapted around your lifestyle and there is a specialty for every nurse to enjoy.
image from UMass Amherst College of Nursing
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