Become a Registered or Practical Nurse
Why choose a nursing career?
If you are a caring person, one that wants to help other people directly, then nursing may be a career of choice for you. As a nurse you will be involved in many aspects of care, from helping with activities of daily living to advocating for your patient. A career in nursing is rewarding in many aspects.
A nursing career will give you emotional rewards. Nothing is more rewarding than being able to see how your patient benefits from your care. As a nurse you will help your patient physically and mentally to return to a previous state of health or maintain an acceptable level of health. Choosing a nursing career means interacting with many people in the interest of your clients.
Doctors, physical therapists, dieticians, laboratory technicians, nursing aides, and technologists are just a few of those with whom the nurse will interact in order to achieve the best outcomes for a patient. Therefore, a career in nursing builds excellent communication skills.
There are many financial rewards associated with becoming a nurse. Starting salaries for new nurse graduates in Georgia are over $50,000 in many urban areas. There are always opportunities for overtime and additional shifts at other health care facilities for those who choose to become a nurse. Sign-on bonuses of thousands of dollars are also being offered to newly employed nurses.
Benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, vacation time, retirement and pension plans are offered by most health care facilities to individuals with nursing careers. Many hospitals are devising new types of benefits each year to attract and retain nurses. Nursing students and nursing graduates can have their college loans paid upon signing work contracts with hospitals.
A career in nursing gives you flexibility in scheduling the hours you wish to work, as well as the department and age of the population you are interested in caring for. People of all ages need nursing care, from infants to the elderly. Become a nurse and have the option to choose the particular age group you want to work with. Furthermore, a nurse can choose to move on to a different department in a hospital and work with a different population, gaining new experience and a different set of skills.
There is growing demand for nurses and those who choose nursing as a career will not have to worry about job security or availability of jobs. A career in nursing gives you peace of mind and the certitude that your skills and knowledge are needed not only now but also in the future.
A career in nursing means constant learning. Even after completing a nursing program and finding a job, a nurse is continuously required to keep skills and knowledge current. Health care is evolving, new techniques and approaches to how care is given are emerging, and as a result, continuing education is a requirement for the nursing professional. Those who chose nursing as a career have many opportunities to further their knowledge by attending required continuing education classes or obtaining certifications and advanced nursing degrees.