While you have likely already considered what compels you to pursue a nursing career, there are many practical career benefits of nursing to consider. For example, nursing offers career advancement opportunities, along with high earning potential and a strong career outlook.
Why become a nurse? Each nursing student has their own answer to this question, but for many, the career benefits of nursing are compelling. Nursing is a dynamic field that offers many career opportunities, from specializations to career growth.
When you imagine a career in healthcare, what do you see? Do you see yourself saving lives in the emergency room or helping a mother deliver her first child? Do you want to build relationships with your patients as you help them lead healthier lives? The career you imagine can change over time, but the reasons you chose it are likely to remain.
At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program makes it possible for those who have already earned a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn their Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing in as few as 16 months. You can enter the nursing workforce sooner and begin enjoying the benefits of being a nurse.
Before starting the admission process, examine the many advantages of being a nurse. From diverse nursing specialties to strong earning potential, you’re likely to discover your own motivations for completing nursing school.
Why Choose Nursing as a Career?
You may be interested in pursuing a nursing career because you’re fascinated with health science, want to help others, or enjoy the process of learning. Nursing is a fulfilling career that is well-suited to lifelong learners, as it requires a commitment to continual professional development. Nursing school, meanwhile, takes a deep dive into nursing science topics like pathophysiology, pharmacology, and nursing research.
7 Reasons to Become a Nurse
Why become a nurse? There are many reasons to become a nurse, from specialization options to job growth projections. While a nursing career can be demanding, it also has the potential to be immensely rewarding.
Learn more about alternative nursing careers outside of hospitals.
Choose From Diverse Nursing Specialties
Nursing is a diverse field with many specialties to choose from. As a registered nurse (RN), you can pursue positions beside and away from the bedside or specialize by patient age and condition.
Bedside nursing refers to nursing roles in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term facilities. Conversely, away-from-the-bedside nursing roles refer to nurses who work outside of these environments. While some roles may involve direct patient care, others do not. Some away-from-the-bedside careers include:
- Forensic nurse
- Informatics nurse
- Nurse educator
- School nurse
Additionally, nurses can specialize their careers by patient populations and conditions, such as:
- Critical care nurse
- ER nurse
- Geriatric nurse
- Oncology nurse
- Pediatric nurse
Benefit From Strong Job Demand and Career Stability
With a national nursing shortage, RNs are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth rate for RNs is 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average. Growth is expected to be even faster in the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania Metro area, at 26%.
Earn a Competitive Salary
A nurse’s salary can depend on many factors, including their years of experience, nursing specialty, employer, geographic location, and certifications. According to the BLS, RNs made a median annual salary of $93,600 as of May 2024.
In New York State, the pay for RNs is even higher. The BLS states that RNs made a median annual salary of $105,600 as of May 2024.
Pursue Career Growth and Leadership Opportunities
Why become a nurse? Career advancement opportunities are among the many compelling reasons to become a nurse. The field offers many advancement pathways you can pursue. If you’re interested in a career away from the bedside, for example, you might pursue opportunities in nursing management, administration, education, or research.
There are also career growth options for RNs who wish to continue working with patients, such as becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). An APRN is an advanced clinician who has undergone graduate-level education and training and, as a result, has a broader scope of practice and a higher degree of autonomy.
There are four types of APRNs:
- Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
Enjoy Flexible Scheduling Options
Scheduling flexibility is another advantage of being a nurse. Although specifics vary by position and work environment, there are many scheduling options for nurses.
Scheduling options for full-time RNs can include:
- Three 12-hour shifts per week
- Five eight-hour shifts each week
- Four 10-hour shifts each week
- Four 12-hour shifts followed by four days off
Nurses can work full-time, part-time, or per diem, meaning they are scheduled to work as needed. They may work day, evening, or night shifts.
Make a Meaningful Impact on Patients and Communities
Nurses have ranked as the most trusted profession in America since 2002. Nurses provide an essential service to their communities and are typically the healthcare providers who serve as the main point of contact for patients. Nurses empower patients to improve their wellness, help them navigate the complex healthcare ecosystem, and demystify the process of making treatment decisions.
At Mount Saint Vincent, we instill a spirit of service and leadership in our nursing education, ensuring our students graduate ready to give back to their communities and become compassionate, skilled nurses.
Find Purpose and Personal Fulfillment in Your Work
Many nursing students decide to become nurses because they desire a career, not just another job, that provides purpose and personal fulfillment. As a nurse, you can provide practical and emotional support to patients and family caregivers when they need it most.
Meanwhile, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a career in nursing, tapping into career advancement opportunities and perhaps even pivoting to a new nursing specialty when you’re ready for a change.
Learn how you can become a certified nurse midwife in just five steps.
Why Do You Want to Be a Nurse?
Only you can determine why you want to become a nurse, but at Mount Saint Vincent, you’ll find yourself immersed in a like-minded community of service-minded nursing students. Nursing school is a demanding journey, but keeping in mind your motivations for a career change and the many benefits of nursing can help you stay on track toward graduation.
Although your professional purpose may evolve throughout nursing school and your career, it is helpful to have a general understanding of your motivation for becoming a nurse before entering nursing school. When you speak with an admission counselor at the Mount, you may be asked, “Why do you want to become a nurse?” The Mount seeks motivated nursing students who are driven to succeed.
Discover Your Purpose in Healthcare Through Nursing School
While it’s essential to understand your motivation before enrolling in nursing school, remember that school is a time to explore and learn. As a nursing student, you will have many opportunities to discover the benefits of nursing.
Our ABSN program strives to graduate practice-ready nurses who provide dignified patient care. Our nursing coursework teaches core evidence-based nursing practices.
Our nursing skills labs are held in high-tech facilities equipped with medical manikins, where students hone foundational skills, such as patient head-to-toe assessments and IV placement. They also participate in mock clinical scenarios, where they must work as a team to address the health needs of their manikin patients. These labs prepare students for clinical rotations, where they provide direct patient care at healthcare facilities throughout New York City.
Kickstart Your Nursing Career With Our ABSN Program
When you’re ready to experience the benefits of nursing, the University of Mount Saint Vincent will support you throughout your journey, from our admission counselors guiding you through the admission process to our talented faculty providing academic guidance. You’ll enjoy small class sizes, a personalized learning experience, and an inclusive learning community that champions your success.
Request info today and connect with our admission counselors to learn more.