Nursing: A comfortable life and stable career path

In the age of entrepreneurship, it’s hard to think of working for someone else. Why work for someone else when you could work from home during the hours of your choice in your pj’s? The answer: A comfortable life and a stable career path. 

Is Nursing For You?

It’s hard to imagine showing up at work every day, getting called in on your days off, and having to work on the holidays. We often think to ourselves, could I do this on my own, and can I emotionally handle this, or will this break me? We think: I want to make a difference, but will I? Could I even make it as an entrepreneur? What will I do about creating a stable income and having health insurance for myself and my family? 

Entering the medical field isn’t for everybody. If you need financial stability, want to make a difference, have excellent healthcare coverage, and a stable career path, then this is probably the career for you.

“We used to think about the men going out with their lunch bucket to their factory, and those were good jobs. What’s the corresponding job today? It’s in the health care sector.” – Jane Waldfogel, a professor at Columbia University who studies work and family issues.

What Does a Career In Nursing Mean?

A career in nursing is more than making a difference, working three days a week (which is pretty fantastic), and having a stable career. Having a career in nursing is also about how it changes you as a person. You open yourself up to vulnerabilities you never expected, and you learn more about yourself than you had ever anticipated; all while making a difference and changing lives. A career in nursing could mean more than you think.

Advancing Your Career in Nursing 

Most importantly, a career in nursing provides unlimited opportunities. Unlike a typical 9-to-5 job, you don’t hit a glass ceiling, and your career advancements don’t rely on someone leaving their role. In the medical field, you can advance by changing where you work, such as a hospital versus a medical practice, how often you work, and what specialty you choose. 

Most often, additional certificates are relatively quick and easy to obtain, advancing your career significantly. When you get tired of working three days a week, weekends and holidays, you can leave and work for a physicians’ practice. If a practice is too boring, you can obtain a few additional credentials and apply to work in the ICU or ER of a local hospital. When you start to feel adventurous, you can apply to be a travel nurse where you’re relocated to a different city every few months. Unlike traditional careers, there’s truly an unlimited number of options within the same profession. For more on types of nursing career options, visit our recent blog article: Furthering Your Opportunities in Your Nursing Career.

“I knew if I was a nurse, I could be self-sufficient,” she said, “and wouldn’t have to rely on anyone to take care of me.” – Tabitha Waugh

Nursing Career Statistics 

A 2014 study in Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice reveals that an estimated 17.5 percent of newly-licensed RNs leave their first nursing job within the first year, and one in three (33.5%) leave within two years. The researchers found that turnover for this group is lower at hospitals than in other health care settings. With such staggering numbers, you’ll want to make sure that a nursing career is truly the right option for you. Once you’re in it, don’t forget how many options there are with your RN license past the role you’re currently working.

Job Demand 

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Additionally, there is a projected unmet demand for nurses totaling nearly 1 million by the year 2025.

Median Annual Salary

The national median annual salary is enough to keep your family in the middle class while saving up for a college education for your children. When you look at the cost of living and median annual salary on state levels, choosing a career in nursing and obtaining your license in that state could prove to be more valuable than one would think. In California, the median annual salary for a Registered Nurse with a Bachelors in Science and Nursing makes an average of $105,000/year.

If a comfortable life and a stable career path sound like a priority, a nursing career may be the perfect career for you. Now you’ll need to decide what type of nurse you would like to be.  Did we miss anything? Please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below.