The search phrase that most often leads people to my blog is “benefits of being a nurse.” I once wrote a post with a similar title , but it was just about a particular situation with my doctor. It didn’t actually spell out what I think are the benefits to being a nurse. It may just be time for that post. After 11 years, I feel as though I have some idea what I’ve gotten myself into and what I like about it. So here are what I consider to be the top 5 benefits to being a nurse…
5) Location, location, location
All 50 states in the United States make it very easy to get a license. Once you have your initial license in whatever state you originally take your state boards in, you can seek reciprocity in any other state. Say you live in Washington state and want to move to Oregon. All you have to do is check with the board of nursing in Oregon and fill out an application for reciprocity. You will also have to send them some other forms, sometimes school transcripts, and some states wish you to be fingerprinted at the time of application, as well. Just send the fees that the state requires along with all of the required application forms and the state BON where you wish to relocate will verify all of the information and verify that you currently don’t have any disciplinary action against your license. When everything is in order, they send you a new license for that state. As a nurse, it’s easy to relocate from state to state and find employment.
4) Flexible schedule
In virtually any hospital in the country there are a large variety of shifts and number of hours per pay period for a nurse to work. 8 hour shifts, 10 hour shifts, 12 hours shifts. Days, evenings, nights. And those could be anywhere from 20 to 80 hours per pay period (a 2 week pay period). Or a clinic or school nursing works for those who want a more traditional schedule. There are just a lot of choices available to find the schedule that fits you best.
3) Variety
In nursing there are so many settings to work in. A hospital, a clinic, a school. And within those there are a lot of specialties to choose from. Pediatrics, oncology, urology, neurology, and on and on. There are a large variety of choices available to find the area you enjoy the most. And then there are nursing positions to choose from. Staff nurse, floor charge nurse, floor unit manager, educator, hospital wide nursing supervisor, research nurse, and on and on. It’s all about choices and options.
2) Challenge
I get bored easily. It’s a fact. And that’s one reason nursing is such a good fit for me. There is never a dull moment, no matter what area you work in. No day is ever quite the same. Each day and each area and each nursing position has it’s own set of challenges. And as you move from area to area, there are new skill sets and new information to learn. Nursing is a profession that will continue to always provide a challenge.
1) Something to be proud of
I don’t mean this to demean any other profession or occupation, but nursing is a career you can take pride in. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I consider myself lucky to feel that way. I consider myself lucky to be a nurse. I had an instructor in college tell the class “Being a nurse isn’t something you do, it’s something you are. And years later, I know she was right.
You might notice I didn’t mention money/wages as a benefit to being a nurse. That’s not to say the pay is bad. I’ve always been able to support myself on what I earn just fine, even though I may never be wealthy by some people’s standards. I just didn’t mention the pay because nursing is so much more than a paycheck to me, and there are so many more valuable benefits.
Nessa said:
Those are all really great reasons. I would have gone into nursing if I could stomach a medical field.
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Beverly said:
I hope i will be like you someday. I am a registered nurse in the Philippines and i recently passed the examination for being a nurse in California. I don’t have a license because i don’t have a social security number yet. I took up nursing to build a better life for my family because we filipinos are aware that nurses in foreign countries like in the US have a huge salary. It’s not just for the money but for our future. i would not like to think that i became a nurse for the wrong reasons but, i became a nurse because of my love for my family. I just wish that i could learn to love my profession as you do.
Talent Charcks said:
God Bless you
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jarod said:
I have pretty much the same reasons why i would join in I didnt think of the location though, I am only 11, I think I’ll try it out
Antonio martinez said:
I am considering taking a career in nursing and i admit i am doing it for the money but also to get the chance to learn something interesting and meet new people everyday.
Clarice Johnson said:
ive starting Nursing school on Jan21,2012 i want to enrich my life,and meet new people i thought i was to old to go back to school @ 39 but then i though your never to old to learn wish me luck…..
Nomathamsanqa said:
Nursing is really a hard career path, but I believe in the route of good, better, best. Never let it go until your better is your good and your good is your best. Good luck dear
sharon ball said:
Being a Nurse is a very difficult career choice. Most nurse have to work holidays ,night , evening which makes it very diffucult to have a normal family life. My daughter would disconnect the home on holidays…..Then no respect. You can do a great job and still be yelled at… Also they can take away you nursing license at a drop of a hat…..One mistake and you are done. As a nurse you do so many procedures ,passing medication, charting, and making decisions to save a clients life. We are not doctors but as a direct care nurse this does happen. Doctors expect allot. Why can they not email , text orders.
I have saved two lifes, but does anyone care. Dr leaves orders then you have to use you skills ….Ya ya for what pay!!!! Getting stuck at your over worked job..
Believe me , do your self a favor and go into a traditional mans job..GEt treated allot better and better pay.. Plumber – , equiptment operater, etc.
Nursing is a very demanding career. With dangers and discusting events.
YOU GET STOOL, SPUTEM, BLOOD AND ANY AND ALL BODY FLUIDS ON YOU OR AIR BORN DISEASES..
Do your self a favor .. Watch what a nurse does. Just visit a hospital and watch for a few days. Then become a cna -aid before you invest your time and money.. good luck
karen said:
I read your post. You left out of allot of other aspects of being a nurse.
How hard it is to get your degree in nursing. It is difficult to pass the State Boards. If you can not pass this test you can not be a Nurse.
I have two nursing friends that got TB from work. No one seems to talk about breathing in bacteria, virus, and fungus that could make you sick or even kill you……Think about it ? Do you like being around sick people ? Are they happy, is the family happy, have diarrhea or throwing up, in pain, draining wounds, unable to or unwilling to move, emotionally upset , spitting up blood , spitting infectious incurable sputem in your face.Then the client or family yelling at you as your there to help them. Sometimes they say they are sorry.. But as Nurses we are to understand and just take it. Well you can only take it so many minutes, hours,days, weeks, months, and years. But we are to understand they are sick.. Are they to understand we are human..No No NO .That is your job.. Think of it YOUR JOB. I never seen that in my job description. Getting treated like ….. and looked down by the Doctors.
People are sick and families are under stress.That ends up on your lap..So you get threated very badly. The Nurses are trying to help but their is only so much time and energy you can give one person. Then down the hall is more clients that are sick. The only way there can be a change is at the state goverment.That would change staff ratios. Hospitals need to be monitered more. Like secret shoppers do at stores.
It comes down to money. It takes allot of staff to take care of someone that is sick. Staff that is educated and trained is not cheap.. It takes time to take good care of someone. Try serious ill clients that do not want to cooperate , unable to cooperate, mentally ill, confused ,weak, unable to swallow, in pain, with diarrhea,and/ or vomiting. Do you think that one take one person all day for that one client?? Well no Nurse has time to take care of one client , unless you hire a private nurse yourself.
Question Why is their a shortage of nurses at times. Nursing schools never tell you how bad it is.. These schools never tell you some of you will quiet or not make it or not pass the boards or quiet nursing in the first years you work.. They want your money ,not the truth. I agree with prior post. All nursing students should have to be a aid before going to nursing school. So they do not waste allot of your money-hopes-time………….
For some reason Nurses stab each other in the back and want you to fail. Why If they stuck together maybe things could change.
Brooke said:
I do agree there are definitely negative things about being a nurse… Sure the work isn’t easy. It’s difficult both physically and emotionally at times. Sure, you’re exposed to all sorts of diseases and germs and bodily fluids. Sure, the schedule can sometimes suck (particularly if you work in a hospital, which needs to be staffed 24/7/365). I’m not denying any of those things. I was just saying that at least for me, the benefits to it outweigh the negatives. I’m sure that’s a true statement for everyone. I’m sure there are those who would feel the negatives outweigh the benefits. That just doesn’t happen to be true for me.
kagiso zanele mashele said:
Thank u so much its been a pleasure and an honour 2 encourage this career I would look up 2 it and fulfil my dreams in 2 nursing
Brooke said:
Good luck to you!
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Clinton Abrams said:
I want to be in the medical field one day, and I
know that I’m called to do just that.
Nursing may be that avenue for me!
I’m very excited about the future and would
love to experience all that the nursing or
school has to offer me.
Brooke said:
Good luck to you, Clinton! It really is a very rewarding, fulfilling, and exciting profession to be a part of.
neyssa said:
im 16 and i want to be a registered nurse and i hope i become like you in the future:)
Meggan McDonald said:
Good for you Brooke. To those nurses that have such a negative view of their career- find a new one! When such a large portion of a patient’s recovery is a positive outlook they don’t need a negative nurse who hates their job impeding their return to optimal health. I love being a nurse. When I find myself not loving the setting in which I am providing care I start looking for new opportunities to enhance my skills, but I will always work as a nurse, because that is who and what I am.
Alex said:
I agree meggan i see and hear allot about nurses that just don’t care and are negative and mean to there patients. So yes they need to leave and find something new to do with there lives.
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Amanda said:
Im using your top 5 benefits for a research paper. Could you tell me your full name and whether you have a BSN or MSN?
Amanda said:
also could you tell me the name of the professor that you quoted?
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