Thinking about becoming a registered nurse, but still need a little more convincing? Consider these five benefits that registered nurses enjoy.
5. Competitive Salary
This is one of the most important factors in any job decision, and the fact is that registered nurses in the US do very well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median pay of registered nurses in 2010 was $64,690, or $31.10 an hour.
4. Flexibility
As a registered nurse, you have many choices of locations and careers open to you. Nurses don’t only work in hospitals. As a registered nurse, you can opt for inpatient or outpatient work, and work in settings as varied as physicians’ offices, summer camps, the military or correctional facilities. Nurses can even be self-employed, making it a very flexible career path.
3. Anyone Can Do It
In all fifty US states, the process to become a registered nurse is a simple one and accessible to anybody. You can enter the field with an Associates Degree that can be obtained in as little as 20 months in some nursing programs, and once you pass the test after nursing school to become licensed in one state, it’s easy to transfer it to another if you ever have to move.
2. Job Security
The importance of job security and a strong job market can’t be overstated, and that’s one of the biggest advantages of a nursing career right now. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is expected to grow 26% from 2010-2020, a very above-average growth rate. Even when times are tough, people need medical care, meaning this is a recession-proof industry that will always be hiring.
1. Job Satisfaction
It may seem obvious, but many people don’t give this enough consideration when considering careers. All of the above advantages become meaningless if you’re in a profession that makes you unhappy. Registered nurses provide a service that noticeably improves the lives of their patients in a tangible way. Don’t miss the opportunity to get involved in a satisfying career where you’ll do something to improve another person’s happiness and well being every day.
