Is Travel Nursing Right for You?
Travel nursing is a career full of endless opportunities! You can travel the country, make great money or learn a new specialty. Whatever you choose to pursue, know that nursing doesn’t come without challenges. Being a nurse isn’t for everyone. When considering a healthcare career, you should know a few things before becoming a nurse.
Nurses are in high demand all around the United States. There is a lot of opportunity in the healthcare industry with nursing being one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of nursing jobs will increase about nine percent by 2030. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) Although the opportunities in nursing are substantial, not everyone can be a nurse. There are many factors that go into being a nurse, such as schooling, long hours, physical job demands, interacting with people, and intense situations.
Once you have received your registered nurse license; now you have to decide on a nursing specialty. There are various specialties within nursing, and each specialty comes with its own pros and cons. If you are an adrenaline junky, specialties in the emergency room or intensive care unit are for you. Maybe the high pressure gives you more anxiety than adrenaline; consider a specialty in clinical nursing or long-term care. Picking your specialty all depends on your interest and ability to perform job duties. Doing your research to determine what you need to be a nurse will help you decide the best specialty for you.
Nursing is a very rewarding career because every day, you get to help patients and their families. Nursing is an complex job, it is a combination of science and service. Being science-oriented is important for nurses, especially when dealing with medications, bodily functions, patient plans, and the recovery of patients, but nursing is ultimately a service industry. Providing the best possible patient care is an important aspect to becoming a nurse. Aiding and healing a patient while they are sick can be a very rewarding experience. Nursing is also a very respected profession. It’s not easy to be a nurse. Aside from the care and risk of illness, nurses work in very stressful situations that most people can’t handle. Putting your patient first and respecting their privacy are great responsibilities, and people trust nurses to obey those responsibilities.
Overall, becoming a nurse isn’t an easy decision and should be well thought out. Things you should know before becoming a nurse include the education needed, future nursing career trajectory, specialties of a nurse, and much more. As a nurse, you have many responsibilities, but with those responsibilities comes great satisfaction. Do your research, and decide whether being a nurse is the best fit for you!
