If you have a penchant for caring for people, you can consider a career in nursing. Nurses' duties include assessing patients' health conditions, planning and administering appropriate treatments and evaluating the efficacy of the patients' care plan. Also, they teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses or injuries and how to follow their prescribed treatments correctly. Indeed, the nursing profession is a noble one, as it requires practitioners to exercise a great deal of commitment and tolerance while giving their all to ensure that their patients are in good condition. However, is a career in nursing a suitable choice for you? Here are some reasons to help you consider this career.
1. Job security
The healthcare sector won't fold anytime soon since people need access to healthcare daily. Recent data indicated that 1 in 10 nurses left active services in 2021. Other research revealed that 1 in 5 nursing registrants are 56 years or older and will retire soon. However, the number of retiring workers exceeds those joining the NHS. Moreover, the need for nurses increases as the population ages due to the medical needs of this demographic. Seeing that nurses are essential for administering healthcare to patients, you can be sure that you wouldn't have to worry about losing your job for a long time. Nurses are needed in hospitals, communities, GP practices and schools. Therefore, you can consider becoming a nurse if your goal is to enjoy job security.
2. Various career options
In addition to job security, you also get to choose what speciality to pursue. For instance, you can be a certified midwife-nurse, where you take care of mothers and babies during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal stage. You can also decide to work with children below 18 as a paediatric nurse or with people with mental health issues as a psychiatric nurse. You can also work as a theatre nurse, orthopaedic nurse, geriatric nurse, or cardiology nurse. Your options are endless, and you can opt for the best one based on your preferences.
For instance, you can consider midwife or neonatal nursing if you have a caring and empathetic nature. If you like caring for the elderly, geriatric nursing may be perfect. However, it's crucial to get the needed training to execute your duties effectively. Fortunately, credible online platforms offer courses and care certificate options, so feel free to consider them.
3. Competitive salary and other benefits
Although the joy of taking care of people can motivate you to choose a career in nursing, the salary is also something to consider. According to the NHS, the average nursing salary ranges between £33,000 and £35,000, and newly qualified nurses who register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council can earn up to £24 907 annually. Moreover, the NHS acknowledges your experience level, as your salary increases based on how many years you've worked in the industry. In addition to the salary, you also get access to other benefits.
For instance, you get extra pay if you work out-of-hours, overtime or shifts. You also get a 37.5-hour working week while enjoying 27 days of holidays yearly and 33 days if you've worked for ten years. These benefits are not limited to UK nurses, as international nurses also enjoy the same benefits. Your children can access the school system freely, while your family can also access free healthcare, so keep this in mind.
4. Continuous learning and career development
If you enjoy learning and developing yourself on the job, you want to consider nursing. This is because the top-notch standards of the UK healthcare system require continuous training, development and support. Due to this, the NHS offers an annual personal development review and plan to aid your professional development. Not only can you access various training courses to acquire new skills, which can be the gateway towards further career development.
Moreover, climbing the career ladder is not limited to one path, as you can explore various options to reach your desired position in the sector. Several job fairs, local RCN meetings and industry conferences are also available to help you network up the career ladder, so keep this in mind.
5. Access to leadership roles
There has been a relentless effort to invest in effective leadership within the healthcare sector. As a result, nurses are now encouraged to take on leadership roles like directors, middle-managers, front-line supervisors, etc. Moreover, you can take on leadership duties by sharing ideas to improve patient care or act as a role model to other staff. Therefore, being a nurse is not only limited to performing clinical duties, but you can also perform managerial roles to lead a team of nurses and healthcare workers in a particular area.
***This is a contributed post and may contain an affiliate link
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