Top 6 Reasons Why Nurses Love Their Careers

If you’re a nurse, you probably love what you do. More than 90% of nurses are satisfied with their careers and believe they make a difference in the lives of others. Some consider it a true calling. What about you? Are you thinking of dedicating your life to others by becoming a nurse? Whether you are an RN ready to advance your nursing career with a BSN degree, further along the path and thinking of a leadership role, or just starting out, the rewards of the profession are many.

Here are the top 6 reasons why nurses love their careers:

1. You Could Save a Life as a Nurse

Imagine actually saving someone’s life? Nurses do it all the time. In times of crisis, your knowledge and skills give you the ability to save others. On the job, that might mean detecting an anomaly that leads to proper medical attention. Or you might administer life-saving treatment and medication. Even off the job, your training can kick in when someone’s choking or having difficulty breathing. You’re a hero who wears scrubs instead of a cape.

2. You Care for Others as a Nurse

As a nurse, you’ll care for people when they’re most vulnerable. Patients who are recovering from an illness or injury, or giving birth, turn to nurses for treatment, comfort, and care. You can ease their fears, make them feel comfortable, and console their worried family members. There are few careers where you would have more direct impact on others—at all stages of their lives.

3. Nursing Offers a Variety of Specialties

Your career in nursing offers a variety of paths to pursue. You can find a specialization that interests you such as pediatrics, oncology, surgery, or rehabilitation. You could also work for different health facilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 60% of nurses are employed by hospitals, but you could also work for an ambulatory surgical center, a private practice, a nursing home, or a public school. And if you’d like to switch settings or work locations, you can. Nurses are needed just about everywhere. Even if you want to move out of state, you’d only need to check your destination’s licensure requirements and make sure you do what’s necessary to become a nurse in their state.

4. Nursing Offers Opportunities for Growth

After you’ve gained some experience in the nursing profession, you’ll find there are chances to advance your career. You could become a clinical nurse leader or a nurse administrator. You could become a nursing instructor or mentor to new nurses. Advanced opportunities may require training, degrees, and certification, but continuous learning is an important aspect of a nursing career.

5. You’ll Always Learn Something New as a Nurse

The nursing profession has changed a lot over the years. While the goal of caring for patients remains the same, the methods and techniques have evolved. The way you care for patients will always change, which means you’ll constantly have something new to learn. As new treatments are developed and new technologies and tools are adopted by the industry, you’ll refresh your skills to keep up with the times. If you consider yourself a lifelong learner, you’ll appreciate the opportunity nursing will give you to always learn.

6. You’ll Feel Proud of Your Nursing Career

Because they make a difference in the lives of others, nurses feel proud of what they do. They know that they’re needed and that not everyone is cut out to work in the field of healthcare. Most of all, they enjoy what they do. And when you love what you do, you derive satisfaction from your career. And career satisfaction is what everyone wants.