Jumping into anything new when you don’t have all of the facts might be intimidating.
That is why choosing a profession is so tough.
In this post, we’ll talk about nursing careers and if they’re useless or not.
So is Nursing Degree REALLY Useless?
A Nursing Degree isn’t useless. Nursing provides fascinating, challenging, gratifying, and well-paying, secure in-demand career opportunities for those who are people-oriented.
Nurses are generally friendly and kind, whether they are talking with physicians, assisting patients, or supporting their families.
Nurses work directly with a variety of clients and are in charge of ensuring that all treatment procedures are followed to the letter.
Nurses also give much-needed emotional support to patients, making treatments much more pleasant.
You can begin by pursuing a more broad job in which you work with a variety of patients.
However, if you want to advance your profession, you can enrol in an MSN or DNP programme and specialise.
Dialysis nursing, paediatric nursing, geriatric nursing, nurse educators, and family nurse practitioners are examples of nursing specialisations.
Nursing is one of the most in-demand professions, with Registered nurse employment is expected to rise at a rate of 9% between 2020 and 2030, which is approximately the same as the national average for all occupations. And it’s not hard to see why. Nurses have a lot of duties, but they also get a lot of benefits and personal fulfilment.
To be a Nurse, you must be willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Nurses in hospitals and nursing homes typically work in shifts to offer around-the-clock coverage.
They may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Having to be on-call implies they are on duty and must be ready to work at any time.
Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other non-24-hour settings are more likely to have normal business hours.
Nursing also pays well, with the median annual wage for registered nurses was $75,330 in May 2020 (source BLS.gov)
So now that we’ve answered the primary issue, let’s look at the profession of a nurse and how useful it is…
Nursing can take you around the world
The most advantageous part of a Nursing degree is that you may apply your medical knowledge and talents in other countries as long as you grasp the local language.
Despite the fact that certain states are more developed than others, and medical tools and methods may differ, nurses perform the same role. Of course, your nursing diploma and experience must be recognised in order to work as a nurse in another nation. You may be needed to take additional examinations in some countries to demonstrate your talents.
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Typical education path to become a Nurse
To become a Nurse registered usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses are required to be licensed.
Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and social and behavioural sciences are common subjects in nursing school programmes.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree programmes, like those in several other healthcare and related areas, generally take four years to complete; associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) and associate of science in nursing (ASN) degrees also typically take four years.
Diploma programmes, which are primarily offered by hospitals or medical institutes, normally last 2 to 3 years.
Diploma programmes are much less in number than BSN, ADN, and ASN programmes. All programmes involve a clinical experience that is supervised.
Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of education programs (bachelor’s, associate’s, or diploma) qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses.
However, employers—particularly those in hospitals—may require a bachelor’s degree.
Registered nurses with an ADN, ASN, or diploma may go back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree through an RN-to-BSN program.
There are also master’s degree programs in nursing, combined bachelor’s and master’s programs, and accelerated programs for those who wish to enter the field of nursing and already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Some employers offer tuition reimbursement.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) must earn a master’s degree in nursing and typically already have 1 year or more of work experience as an RN or in a related field.
CNSs who conduct research typically need a doctoral degree.
Career Paths for Registered Nurses
Many great employment options are available if you choose a career in nursing.
The majority of registered nurses begin their careers as staff nurses in hospitals or community health settings.
They can go to different settings or be promoted to jobs with more responsibility if they have experience, strong performance, and ongoing education.
Nurses may rise in management from assistant clinical nurse manager, charge nurse, or head nurse to more senior administrative positions such as assistant director or director of nursing, vice president of nursing, or chief nursing officer.
A graduate degree in nursing or health services administration is increasingly required for management-level nursing employment.
Some RNs may go on to become nurse anaesthetists, nurse midwives, or nurse practitioners
Which are all forms of advanced practice registered nurses, along with clinical nurse specialists (APRNs). APRNs must have a master’s degree, but many also have a doctorate.
APRNs can offer general and specialised care, as well as prescribe medicines in several states.
Going on to become a specialised Nurse has its financial benefits.
According to BLS.gov, the median annual wages for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners in May 2020 were as follows:
| Nurse anesthetists | $183,580 |
| Nurse practitioners | $111,680 |
| Nurse-midwives | $111,130 |
Source: Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook:: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
Some nurses choose to work in the business side of healthcare.
Their nursing knowledge and experience working on a healthcare team prepare them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care companies.
Registered nurses are needed by employers such as hospitals, insurance firms, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organisations for positions in health planning and development, marketing, consulting policy creation, and quality assurance.
Final Thoughts
A nursing degree isn’t useless. For individuals who are people-oriented, nursing is an interesting, demanding, satisfying, and well-paying in-demand employment option.
You should consider becoming a Nurse if you enjoy helping and caring for people and don’t mind working shifts and being on your feet all day.
Any career decision is significant.
It’s critical to think about your alternatives and obtain input from family and friends.
You can even get job advice.
Consider your talents, weaknesses, and preferences.
Related Articles
- Nurse Vs Paramedic, Which One Is Better? (Explained)
- Pharmacy Vs Nursing, Which One Should I Study? (Explained)
- Nursing: 7 Things You Need to Know (for students)
References
- Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook:: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
