7 Reasons People Are Choosing Nursing As A Second Career
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, on average, employees stay on the same job for five years. After this, several factors like low salary, long working hours, or lack of personal and professional fulfillment force them to switch careers.
Older generations find the concept of an alternate career strange as they prefer keeping their first choice as the last one. But millennials and other generations of the workforce see the wisdom in how a career switch may be the best thing for them.
While a second career is relatively new, it’s quickly becoming popular. And just like choosing your first profession, it requires careful deliberation and thinking to ensure you pick the right one for yourself.
Several industries have progressed in recent years, but none hold a candle to the advancements in the healthcare sector. Besides being a fast-paced and developing field, medical professions like nursing are more in demand than ever. The higher life expectancy, emergence of complex diseases, and unhealthy lifestyles are only the tip of the iceberg.
If you plan on switching careers, picking an increasingly popular one, such as nursing, might be a perfect choice. Here are seven more reasons why other professionals are making the same switch:
1. Ease of transition
One of the primary reasons people choose nursing as a second career is the ease of transition process for those from a non-nursing background. Since it’s a vast and highly versatile field, several degrees allow you to gain the necessary education and expertise to become a nurse. For instance, by enrolling in a direct entry online MSN program, you can learn crucial medical concepts at an accelerated pace. You won’t have to go back to school to earn an undergraduate degree in nursing; instead, you can transition into the field with your current one. Additionally, online programs make it feasible for working professionals to attend classes without worrying about job schedules and taking time off.
2. High demand
The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance and need for healthcare workers, especially nurses. However, this demand has been in the works for a while now.
Due to modern medicine and technology, baby boomers and older generations are likely to live up to a longer age. So there will be a greater need for senior healthcare and more medical concerns regarding old age. Therefore, nurses must be available to provide patients with the standard care they need to meet this demand.
Additionally, the current nursing workforce will soon retire, taking away years of experience. To compensate for these losses, hospitals and other medical settings will hire nurses in large numbers, ensuring job security for a long time.
3. Continuous learning
Most people switch careers because they start living monotonous lives and grow tired of the same daily problems. But there’s nothing more unpredictable than working in healthcare. Every case is different, and you must be open to learning new things by keeping your mind fresh, active, and ready.
The nursing profession is one of the few occupations that not only allows continuous learning but also encourages it. With new medical theories and knowledge emerging daily, healthcare workers and students must stay updated about the most recent discoveries. Besides improving your chances to succeed professionally, continuous learning makes you better at how you perform at work as well. When you practice and learn new skills, you’ll be more equipped to deal with various patients and quickly provide them with the necessary care. You can also use your newly discovered knowledge to conduct research at the national level and bring significant changes to society.
4. Make a real difference
Very few people can claim to have made an actual difference in someone else’s life. But not nurses. While no profession is insignificant, you can’t argue the role of a nurse in transforming a patient’s life or even that of entire communities. By caring for the sick, healing the injured, consoling the loved ones, and offering compassion to everyone around them, their acts make a huge impact. They also work outside healthcare settings and advocate for their patients to ensure newer and better local or federal policies get implemented.
Additionally, they organize awareness programs and educate people about prevalent health concerns to better care for themselves and others around them. Empowering one family with health literacy can have a ripple effect and quickly improve the quality of life of whole neighborhoods.
5. Flexible and versatile jobs
Nurses can do it all—from working with direct patient care or making executive decisions in a boardroom. Unlike traditional nursing jobs, today’s nursing fields offer various specializations and professions to cater to everyone. Instead of just providing bedside care to patients or monitoring vital signs, you can now work in managerial and corporate positions. Working in these roles also offers better salaries, shorter working hours, and more job security, which is why more people are transitioning to nursing careers.
6. Better salaries
According to BLS, nurses are one of the highest paying professions worldwide. Registered nurses earn $82,750 annually, but this can get even higher depending on your qualifications, skills, and geographic region. These lucrative salaries attract many people who switch careers to receive better financial awards and other benefits. Some institutes and hospitals offer to pay off student loans or provide attractive insurance coverage to help you in difficult times.
7. Work in multiple settings
Contrary to popular belief, nurses don’t just work in hospitals or clinics but can instead work in several other settings. Each place has its own set of roles and responsibilities, so you can choose one that best aligns with your interests. Unsurprisingly, general and surgical hospitals offer the most job positions for nurses. However, suppose you want to work in a non-hospital setting. In that case, you can also look for jobs in nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, schools, in-house care, government agencies, and even research centers.
A nursing career also allows you to change your work setting if you grow tired of it. So, for instance, you work as an emergency care nurse, but the constant pressure gets overbearing. You’ll then have the option to transfer to a low-stress job like a rehab clinic.
Conclusion
You must think long and hard when choosing a second career—perhaps even more than the first time. Transitioning into a new professional phase isn’t easy, but knowing there are several benefits to switching into one, like nursing, can make it worthwhile. And with so many specializations, you’ll find the perfect fit for you in no time.
