Why do you want to become a nurse? This important question is something that current and future nursing students should ask themselves. Whether it is a matter of financial security, a need to contribute positively to society, or a personal reason, it is integral that you, as a nursing student, understand this aspect of your life. The benefits and rewards that you will undoubtedly reap as a nurse are often strong influences in pursuing a nursing career. Photo: Multi-Disciplinary Team featuring a Pharmacist, Radiologist, Doctor, and Nurse (Northeast Georgia Health System, 2005)
First of all, nursing is a very stable career choice. There are many promotional opportunities along with plenty of room to grow and expand in the field (Kovner et al., 2005). A feeling of closeness to coworkers is a key factor that contributes to nurses’ high job satisfaction (Kovner et al., 2005). In addition, nursing is a financially gratifying profession, which is why many decide to enter and remain in the field. A nurse practitioner with a master's degree can earn over $70,000 on average per year. This figure only increases with more experience and time in the field (Rosseter, 2007). “Real earnings (comparable dollars over time) have grown almost 14 percent since 2000.” (HRSA, 2007). The promise of financial stability is an important benefit that the nursing field offers.
Though the work of nurses is oftentimes tough, nurses' job rewards far outweigh their daily career stresses. The joy of seeing their patients recover, as well as seeing how their life's work benefits others is a major influence as to why so many have already chosen the nursing profession (Kovner et al., 2005).Photo: Nurses Are Constantly in Two Places at Once (Centers of Excellence for
Women's Health, 2008)
Nurses face tough decisions every day, and therefore must be able and willing to resolve ethical conflicts through ethical decision making (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008). They are virtually first in line when it comes to dealing with patients (Cross, 1993) and they often see patients before the doctor does. It is their responsibility to take vital signs, give critical injections or medications, and make sure that all is ready for the multi-disciplinary health care team, including the physician (Cross, 1993). When 9/11 took place, nurses were called to New York to help in any way that they could (Yearwood, 2002). Without the bravery of these men and women, many of the victims would not have been adequately taken care of and nursed back to health. The fact that nurses can contribute positively to society and to individual communities is another reason why many choose the nursing profession.
Photo: Triage Team in NYC after September 11th, 2001 (Recollections of 9/11, 2006)
Upon first glance, this picture looks like a group of men and women casually standing around and talking, while a small group of people attend to the well-dressed man lying on the cot. The background story of this photo is that this group of people is a triage team working after the disaster of September 11th, 2001 on the street corner of Greenwich and North Moore in New York City. Triage teams can be set up anywhere; therefore, nurses have to be ready for action any time of the day. Disaster can affect anyone and any community. Nurses must be willing to put aside any differences they may have with others because it is their duty to make decisions, which may in turn mean life or death for someone else.
Nurses are not just limited to hospital settings. A nurse can join the Army, the Navy, or the Peace Corps. A nurse may work in a hospital, university, or even in an amusement park’s first aid center. Those who enjoy working at a fast pace may choose to consider working in the emergency room of a hospital as an ER nurse. Because the field of nursing is so vast, there is something different and unique to suit multiple tastes and preferences. It is especially important to see the broad spectrum to which nursing can take people.
Photo: The Broad Spectrum of the Nursing Field (Yale University School of Nursing, 2003)
Nurses work in all aspects of the healthcare field (Cross, 1993) and play an integral role in the lives of their patients and their families. Nurses work in a complex environment and are crucial to the care of patients with various problems and diseases. Because of this, the job of a nurse is broad and far-reaching. The benefits of their profession are even broader because it affects them personally, but it also affects the community they influence. The lives nurses impact on a daily basis are innumerable. Realizing the lasting benefits that being a member of the nursing profession entails will undoubtedly influence potential nursing students as well as current ones.
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For more information on the fascinating world of nursing, please refer to these links:
1. Discover Nursing:
The first thing you'll see when clicking this link are the words, “There has never been a better time to be a nurse!” Click on this link to read the personal stories of men and women who have chosen to enter the nursing field. Read about their daily stresses as well as the things that make their profession so rewarding.
2. Résumé Tips for Nurses:
Although you may be an undergraduate student, it is important to always look forward and ahead. One of the ways to look forward in the nursing career is by building and planning your résumé. This site allows you to do just that by offering tips and suggestions on how to make your résumé more appealing to employers.
3. Nursing Degree Guide:
Click on this link to see some statistics on how much a typical Registered Nurse (RN) makes. This site mentions that with more education, the pay rate for a registered nurse will increase. They mention the lowest, middle, and highest salaries in the pay range for nurses. Being able to visually see the earnings that a nurse can make are great incentives to enter the nursing field.
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References:
Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing 3rd Edition. Clifton Park, New York, USA: Thomson Delmar Learning.
Campaign for Nursing. (2007, October). Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Johnson & Johnson: http://www.campaignfornursing.com/
Cross, T. A. (1993). CPR for the Professional Rescuer. St. Louis, Missouri, USA: Mosby - Year Book Publishing Company.
HRSA. (2007, December 2). The Registered Nurse Population: Findings from the 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses . Retrieved December 2, 2007, from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurvey04/
Kovner, C., Brewer, C., Wu, Y.-W., Cheng, Y., & Suzuki, M. (2005, August 7). Factors Associated With Work Satisfaction Of Registered Nurses. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, pp. 71-79.
Rosseter, R. (2007, September 28). Nursing Shortage Resource. Retrieved December 1, 2007, from American Association of Colleges of Nursing: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/shortageresource.htm#strategies
Yearwood, E. L. (2002). The Aftermath of September 11th, 2001. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.
