Practical and Ethical Reasons to Pursue a Career in Nursing

There’s no denying that employment options are few and far between for Americans of all backgrounds. Young adults out of college or vocational schools face particularly harsh challenges in the employment arena, competing against countless job-seekers with commensurate experience in their fields. To young men still searching out for a viable career path amidst this economic downtown, I would advise one option above all: nursing. Nursing stands as an appealing career choice to young men on both practical and ethical grounds, offering endless opportunity for growth not only as a professional but as a person. In many ways nursing offers incentives simply unheard of in any other typical 9-5 post college profession. Here are just a few compelling reasons to consider nursing.

Job Security

Nursing, from a practical perspective, can be tempting if only for its consistency. Nurses employed by major hospitals and clinics often reside for years and years with little fear of losing their job (if they do their job well) unless through some unforeseen circumstance. Unlike most other professions sloughing off employees and freezing their hiring processes, health care institutions are clamoring for more nursing staff. The demand for nurses is only tempered by poorly-funded health care facilities affected by the economic downtown; as a nurse, your employment opportunities are essentially limited by the economic climate of your area. But there will always be need for the profession. After all, being unwell will never go out of style, there will always be a demand for professionals capable of helping others.

Flexible Schedule

Perhaps one of the most immediately appealing aspects of nursing is the allowance for variable schedules. Nurses (to an extent) can plan their shifts, typically served in 9 to 12 hour increments. Nurses who work multiple long hour shifts in a row are allowed ample days off to recuperate. To be clear, this isn’t to say that nurses have an “easier” work schedule than the typical person in the workforce; it simply calls for different time commitments. But the condensed work schedule of a nurse opens the door for freedom to do what one pleases during non work days.

Dynamic Work Environment

If you go to a higher education institution for nursing, you’ll be trained over the course of several years to perform a myriad of duties. Nurse educators seek to impart a perpetual readiness among their pupils; as a nurse you’ll need to be ready for whatever new challenge faces you. Every day at a clinic you’ll encounter a different patient with completely unique needs to be met. Lessons learned in school years ago may not be utilized until you least expect it. The monotony of a workday simply doesn’t exist to a nurse; no two days will be the same, you’ll always find ways to grow as a professional as you grapple with the obstacles of every patient.

Make a Difference Every Day

Perhaps the most value derived from nursing is derived from the daily interaction with people of all walks of life. As I’ve already explained, nurses work with an ever-changing group of patients. The extent of your patient interaction will vary based on the unit in which you’re assigned (ER, OR, surgical, etc.), but you’ll always connect with the people you work with. In nursing you play a very immediate part in helping to better the lives of other people. The satisfaction in nurturing an ailing human being and see them recover is immeasurable; to be allowed the privilege of performing such a task on a daily basis is an honor not worth passing up. If you enjoy interacting and helping others, you would do well to investigate a career in nursing.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online colleges about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.