If you’ve been thinking about entering the nursing field to help make a difference in peoples’ lives, now is a great time to find the best nursing degree to fit your interests and career goals. Not only is the need for registered nurses (RNs) expanding, due in large part to the service demands of the baby-boom generation, career avenues for nurses are varied and available around the globe.
CNN reported in April 2018 that “the American Nurses Association estimates the U.S. will need to produce more than one million new registered nurses by 2022 to fulfill the country’s health care needs.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 12% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than average for all occupations. The BLS notes the growth is due to several factors, including an increasing emphasis on preventive care, rising demand for health care services for people who are living longer through more active lifestyles, and the growing rates for chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
Where are registered nurses needed? Everywhere! There are opportunities for RNs to work in all types of environments and establishments from rural to suburban areas and walk-in facilities to hospitals. Nursing can be an eight to five job but definitely doesn’t need to be. You can work full or part-time and even find employment that offers flexible schedules and chances for extra hours — if you want them. And with the added flexibility of an online degree, you can fit education into your life now in order to give you the life you want in the future.
A career in nursing certainly won’t be boring — with new patients every day, there’s constant change, challenge, and variety. Depending on your position, you can have opportunities to interact with patients and their families, medical staff, doctors, and others. As a nurse, you’ll always be learning and growing.
Speaking of learning, let’s not forget about technology — today, advances in the use of technology in medicine and health care remain on the cutting edge. Technology directly impacts the delivery of health care services and how people in need access care and manage their health. Technology is fueling the growth of telemedicine, providing access to health care even at a distance to patients in many underserved communities. Technology is also combining with traditional health care disciplines. For instance, the nursing informatics specialty might appeal to you if you want to combine technology and nursing skills in a rapidly developing area of health care. Regardless of where in the health care industry you practice nursing, you can have an influence on improvements for patients and staff alike.
If you have a passion for learning, there’s also a great need for educators to teach new students. Pursuing a master’s or doctorate in nursing can set you on the instructor or nursing leadership and management path.
