Is Nursing a Good Career? Five Signs It Suits You
The nursing profession provides not only job security and advancement opportunities, but also a deep sense of meaning. If you’re seeking a job that combines high earning potential and stability with genuine purpose, the registered nurse career may be right for you. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that there will be over 189,000 openings for registered nurses each year from 2024 to 2034, making now an ideal time to enter the field.
Signs Nursing May Be the Right Career Path for You
Choosing the right career starts with understanding your own strengths, passions, and goals. Nursing is a challenging profession that requires more than just clinical knowledge. It also demands compassion, empathy, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning. Although the work can be demanding, it offers a deep sense of purpose along with strong job security and above-average wages. Continue reading to discover signs that nursing may be the right fit for you.
1. You Want Career Growth and Stability
The demand for nurses is projected to increase by 5% from 2024 to 2034, which is notably faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. Increasing numbers of older adults and patients with chronic conditions are driving the need for consistent, high-quality nursing care. From hospitals and clinics to schools and public health departments, opportunities exist across a wide range of healthcare settings. For new nurses, this strong demand means plenty of job openings today and long-term career growth.
2. You’re Looking for Competitive Pay
Nursing is a rewarding career, both personally and financially. The median annual salary for registered nurses is $93,600, and the highest 10% of earners take home upwards of $135,000 a year. Advanced practice nurses, meaning those with graduate-level education and training, can earn significantly more. According to the BLS, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners have an average annual salary of $132,050. Top earners in these fields can make well over $200,000 a year.
3. You Care About Making an Impact
Do you aspire to do more in your career than merely earn a paycheck? If you’re driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others, a career in nursing could be an excellent choice for you. As a nurse, you will directly influence patient outcomes. Every day brings opportunities to ease pain, provide comfort, and advocate for your patients’ needs. You’ll deliver clinical care, emotional support, and encouragement that help patients through some of life’s most difficult moments. Day-to-day, nurses tend to have the most direct and ongoing contact with patients across the healthcare system. This close connection gives them a firsthand view of patients' needs, barriers to care, and gaps in services that might otherwise go unnoticed. Because of this perspective, nurses can also play a vital role in efforts to improve access and promote health equity.
4. You Want to Learn (and Keep Learning)
Nursing is a profession that constantly challenges you to learn and grow throughout your career. Most states require nurses to complete continuing education to maintain licensure and stay current with evolving best practices and industry standards. However, for many nurses, this requirement is more than just a job obligation; it’s an opportunity to improve their skills and advance professionally in a constantly changing field. If you’re motivated to progress in your career, you will find many opportunities to do so in the nursing field. Whether you earn a healthcare bachelor’s degree, expand your career options with a master’s degree in nursing, or pursue a post-master’s certificate, nursing provides numerous ways to challenge yourself and grow your expertise.
5. You Want the Option to Specialize
Nurses are often seen only as bedside caregivers in scrubs. In reality, nursing is a broad profession with countless nursing roles and specialties to choose from. Some nurses focus on patient care in areas such as oncology or critical care, while others work outside the clinical setting as home health nurses or even in roles related to education, research, or healthcare policy. Within each of these categories, there are opportunities to build expertise and shape your career in a direction that fits your strengths and interests. You can explore different paths until you find the field that best matches your career ambitions, passions, and talents.
Highest Paying Nursing Jobs
Nursing lets you to make a meaningful impact while earning a salary that increases with experience. Salaries can also vary based on several factors, including geographical location, industry, and level of education. For example, nurses in urban areas or regions facing healthcare worker shortages often earn higher wages compared to those in rural settings. Advanced educational qualifications such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing can also lead to higher salaries and more specialized roles. Some of the highest-paying nursing roles include:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). With an average annual salary of $223,210, CRNAs are some of the highest-paid individuals in the nursing field. These skilled professionals administer anesthesia, monitor patients during surgery, and help manage pain. Requirements for this job include completing a doctoral-level nurse anesthesia program.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. These advanced practice nurses diagnose and treat psychiatric conditions. On average, they earn an annual salary of $141,112. To become a mental health nurse practitioner, you must obtain a master’s degree in nursing with a focus on psychiatric-mental health and pass a national certification exam.
Certified Nurse Midwife. Nurse midwives earn an average salary of $131,570 a year. These reproductive health professionals support mothers during labor and delivery and provide prenatal and postnatal care. To become a certified nurse midwife, registered nurses must complete an Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)-approved midwifery graduate program and pass a certification exam.
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse. NICU nurses provide specialized care to premature or critically ill newborns. They earn an average annual salary of $127,110 a year. The role requires an active RN license, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, significant clinical experience, and specialized certifications in neonatal care.
Pain Management Nurse. Pain management nurses provide treatments, administer medication, and educate patients on strategies to manage discomfort. They earn an average annual salary of $130,159. The role typically requires an active RN license, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and at least several years of experience.
Director of Nursing. Professionals in this senior leadership role oversee nursing staff, develop policies, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with regulations. They earn an average salary of $101,340 a year.
How to Begin a Career in Nursing
If you’re interested in joining the nursing field, the journey starts with the right education. The minimum educational requirement to become an RN is an associate degree in nursing. However, many employers strongly prefer or require nurses to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The next step is to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and acquire licensure. After obtaining the necessary credentials, you’ll want to spend some time gaining real-world experience. If you plan to pursue specialized or leadership roles in nursing, consider earning a master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in your area of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing
What Makes Nursing a Strong Career Choice?
Many people desire a career where they can make a positive impact on the world. Nursing provides this, along with many other benefits. Nurses are consistently in high demand, meaning this field offers strong job security and many opportunities across various work environments. Along with the competitive pay and various avenues for advancement, nursing is a profession where you can grow both personally and professionally.
What Can You Do with a Nursing Degree?
Nursing is unique in that it offers a wide range of work options. Some nurses work in traditional roles where they provide bedside care to individuals suffering from illnesses or injuries. They may focus on geriatrics, pediatrics, oncology, cardiology, or other specialties. Travel nurses take short-term assignments in different locations, giving them the chance to explore new places while filling critical staffing needs. Other nurses pursue roles in informatics, research, education, administration, or policy. From private practices and home health care to hospitals and public health departments, opportunities span both clinical and community settings.
What Are Some Possible Career Paths in Nursing?
One of the greatest advantages of the nursing profession is the variety of career paths available. You can work directly with patients at the bedside or pursue roles that shape healthcare behind the scenes.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Geriatric Nursing
Perioperative Nurse (Surgical/OR Nurse)
Orthopedic Nurse
Begin Your Nursing Career with a Degree from WGU
WGU’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and built to equip you with the latest skills and knowledge to succeed in the field. For those just starting out, the prelicensure program prepares you for the NCLEX exam and lays a strong foundation for your nursing career. If you’re a registered nurse ready to take the next step, you can pursue the RN to BSN program, a flexible option designed to expand your expertise and career opportunities. If you’re looking to advance further, WGU offers master’s degrees with specializations in leadership and management, nursing education, and informatics, as well as advanced practice options such as family nurse practitioner and psychiatric nurse practitioner tracks.
WGU’s competency-based, flexible format allows you to complete courses at a pace that works for your unique life circumstances and current responsibilities. Whether you’re a busy parent, working professional, or just out of high school, WGU has a degree program to help you reach your professional goals.
