Are You Considering a Job in Nursing?
"Nursing is a profession that offers flexible schedules, excellent benefits, and the chance to work with people from all walks of life."
Nursing is one of the most in-demand jobs on the market right now, with nurses earning an average salary of $81,640. It's a career that offers almost limitless opportunities for growth and advancement. And it might make you want spend your days taking care of other people — but there are plenty of other great aspects that come along with this career besides feeling like you're doing good in the world. For starters, nursing jobs offer rapid start-ups , lots and lots of vacation time , as well as some pretty impressive benefits package.
Whenever you're considering a nursing career, it's important to look at all the factors that come with it before making a decision. To help you out, we've compiled a list of things to consider before going into nursing school. Keep in mind – whether you're considering a job in nursing or just starting one off with this profession, these tips are still relevant!
Current Job Market: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2012-2013 , "nurse aides and nurse's aides fill openings in skilled nursing facilities, home health care agencies, and therapy services." This means that there is a lot of jobs available for nurses already. And it's not just medical jobs in the hospital – nurse's aides, also called nurses' aides, are also a great option for those who aren't considering a job in nursing as a full career.
Compensation and Benefits: This is pretty cut and dried… RNs make good money . According to the same Bureau of Labor Statistics article we referenced above, "the median annual wages of registered nurses was $65,470 in May 2011." It's important to note that this number is for registered nurses only — if you choose an LPN role or something outside of nursing , your salary will likely be a bit less. And it's also important to remember that not all nursing jobs are created equal — benefits packages can be different at smaller or community hospitals than they would be at a Fortune 500 company. You should always consider the monetary aspect of things as well as non-monetary (holidays, vacation time, insurance) perks before making a decision.
Job Security: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2012-2013 , "the employment of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants is expected to increase by 27 percent from 2010 to 2020." That might sound like a confusing statistic but here's the deal: The Bureau considers this rate to be much faster than average job growth . In this case, it means that the job market for nursing jobs is growing faster than the national average.
Skill Set: This is a big one – while some of the skills nursing schools teach you might be valuable on the job, there are still things you want to consider. For example, if you're looking to go into a specialized area of medicine (pediatric oncology) or care (geriatrics) then you'll definitely want to learn about that in school before you get your first job. Yes, it will be a challenge and there's always something more to learn no matter how long you've been in the field, but keeping this in mind from day one will keep you from being overwhelmed with new information later on.
Licensure and Credentials: If a license is required for your chosen profession, it's important to make sure you find out what the requirements are before staying in school. Each state has different requirements, and those requirements can change over time — so it's important to check the current list before starting a degree in nursing. Although, generally speaking if you're planning on going into an advanced practice role (like an RN who works in a hospital) you'll need certain certifications as part of your degree. For example, there are also certification programs out there for scenarios like RN-to-BSN; they'll typically cost more but they can net you benefits like more advanced education credit and a better job market potential.
Start-up Costs: On average, facilities for nursing jobs are a bit more pricey than the typical job. Because these hospitals are usually full-sized, they can require extra space. So if you're planning on going into nursing and also consider yourself a tightwad when it comes to money, you might want to take this cost into consideration. However, if you look at all the great stuff that comes with this career (vacation time and other benefits in addition to good pay) then it might be worth spending a little extra up front on things like an office setup or an apartment rental.
Commuting: This is another one of those things that doesn't always apply but is important nonetheless. Commuting is an important factor to consider if you want a job in nursing – such as it's important to consider if you don't want to live hundreds of miles away from the nearest hospital. Keep in mind that many hospitals will be near major roads (which are going to be very busy during rush hour anyway) — this means that it should be easy for you to get between home and your job. If, however, there isn't a major road nearby then this could make commuting much more difficult.
Working Hours: This can vary depending on where you end up in nursing, but generally speaking there are some things you should keep in mind about working hours. For example, if you're planning on volunteering as a nursing assistant or working in a family-run medical clinic then your hours will be more flexible. You'll work fewer hours and they'll be less rigid than they are in hospital settings. However, if you're planning on working in a major medical facility such as an ER or ICU then you'll likely have longer hours – probably even getting up at 5 AM to cover the last shift of the night.
International Jobs: While it might not seem like it, international jobs are there for nurses no matter where you're from. The thing to keep in mind, though, is that all countries have different standards and qualifications for nurses. If you're planning on going out of the country, it's important to get as much information as possible about the country of your choice so you can be prepared before heading there.
Opportunity to Study: Another great thing about nursing is that there are always more opportunities to learn . There are continuing education classes you can take online or in the classroom which will give you a chance to brush up on those skills or learn something new entirely. Sometimes this will be free and sometimes this will cost money – but either way it's a great opportunity for those who want to further their careers.
Free Nursing Programs: Finally, there are some great free programs out there for nurses who want to further their education. These programs can range from weekend seminars to hospital-based initiatives. They're usually a great way to get your foot in the door – and they can make you much more marketable in the future when you decide to go back and get a degree (or even when you decide to get more training). If it's been a while since you graduated from nursing school, check out these free programs and find one that will fit your schedule.
So hopefully this breakdown has given you some ideas on what factors are important when choosing a career in nursing.
Conclusion
No matter what nursing specialty you chose, there are always opportunities for future growth and advancement in the field. As long as you're dedicated to learning and putting in the time, there's no reason why you can't reach your full potential – which is exactly why we created this guide!
If you're interested in finding out more about the nursing industry then check out our infographic on nursing careers:
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Source: www.careersource.