7 Benefits of Being an RN
There are many benefits to being a Registered Nurse (RN), including the positive impact you make on the lives of others. You can feel good knowing you serve others every day, that your skills are in demand across the U.S., that you belong to a respected and trusted profession, and that there are diverse career paths you might follow. Have you ever thought of becoming an RN? Check out these 7 benefits of a nursing career and decide if it’s one you’d like to pursue.
1. RNs Make a Difference
As an RN, your job is to help others every single day. The work you do can literally save lives. But in your day-to-day interactions with patients and the healthcare team, you also make a difference. You nurse patients back to wellness, give them the gift of hope as well as health, and take care of them when no one else can or will. You also support a team of doctors and other medical professionals, and your work helps them provide the best patient care possible.
2. Nurses are In Demand
Demand for RNs is expected to grow faster than average through the decade, with almost 200,000 anticipated job openings each year in the U.S. In some states, demand is even higher. For example, in Alaska, there is a nursing shortage and demand for RNs is more than double the national average. In Washington, more than 5,000 job openings for RNs are expected each year. Demand is up because so many more people access health care through the Affordable Care Act now and also because Baby Boomers are retiring.
3. RNs are Respected
You can feel proud to be a nurse because your patients, staff, and the public put their trust in you. For the past two decades, nurses have been ranked as the most trusted professionals in the U.S. Respondents say that nurses have high or a very high standard of ethics—above those in all other professions. Your contributions to the field are highly valued and respected by your community.
4. RNs are Well-Compensated
How much you earn depends on where you live and work, but nurses earn above average compensation. In 2023, the median annual wage for RNs was more than $86,000. In Alaska, you might earn more than $100,000 and in California, the average wage for RNs is more than $130,000.
5. Nurses Can Choose Diverse Career Paths
There are more than 200,000 healthcare establishments in the U.S. from hospitals and clinics to long-term care and specialty facilities. As an RN, you have an abundance of choices about where you might work. You can work in hospitals, clinics, home healthcare, schools, or specialized areas like pediatrics or ICU. Do you like the fast-paced environment of an emergency room, the intensity of an operating room, or the steady pace of a physician’s office?
6. RNs Can Live or Travel Anywhere
Because demand for nurses is up across the country, you can take your knowledge and nursing degree most anywhere. Many states have reciprocal agreements or may require you to prove your knowledge through an exam. Check with the state before you make a move. As an RN, you may also decide to be a travel nurse, spending time in one area and then moving to another.
7. RNs May Find Flexible Schedules
Because patients often need 24-7 care, healthcare facilities offer a variety of shifts for their nursing staff. If you work in a doctor’s office, you may work simple dayshifts of 8 AM to 4 PM. But at a hospital or clinic, you may work long shifts and shorter work weeks. For example, you might work three 12-hour days and then have four days off. As you move along your career path, you can decide what kind of schedule might be best for you and find job openings that fit your life.
Are you ready to reap the benefits of an RN career? Charter College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree that can prepare you for an entry-level job as a Registered Nurse. Our program can be completed in as few as 15 months and is offered in blended learning format for flexibility and convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.