Is nursing school worth it? Should I go to nursing school? Only you can answer that question, but there are lots of nursing benefits to consider. For example, you’ll enjoy a strong job growth rate, opportunities for professional advancement, a meaningful line of work and favorable earning potential.
If you’re dissatisfied with your current career, you may wonder, “Should I go to nursing school? Is nursing school worth it?” Only you can answer that question, but becoming a nurse has many benefits. Some top nursing benefits include the opportunity to have a meaningful career with the possibility of advancement and the potential to make a positive difference in your community.
If you do decide the answer to the question, “Should I go to nursing school?” is a resounding “Yes!” then you’ll receive extensive support at Northeastern University. Our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program near Boston or in Charlotte may enable you to graduate with your degree in as few as 16 months.
Before you begin the admission process, however, it’s important to make sure nursing is truly the right career move for you.
Every nurse has their own “why” — their reasons for pursuing a career in healthcare. For many, it’s that nursing provides a meaningful way to earn a living while helping others at the same time. When you reflect upon the following eight nursing benefits, consider whether they resonate with your values, personality and career goals. By the time you’re finished reading, you may already know your own answer to the question, “Is nursing a good career?”
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1. The Opportunity to Change Careers Fairly Quickly
It isn’t always easy to switch careers, whether you’ve been in the workforce for decades or you just recently entered it. It’s easy to assume switching careers to nursing would take a long time. Yet, if you qualify for the ABSN program at Northeastern, you could earn your nursing degree in four semesters. Then, all you need to do is pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam to earn your nursing license. You could start applying for nursing jobs in less time than you might think!
2. Diverse Workplace Settings
Nursing is one of the most diverse occupations available today. Nurses aren’t limited to working in hospitals as a lot of people think. You’ll find nurses hard at work anywhere there’s a need for patient care, from private practices to corporate clinics to schools. Some even care for patients around the country — even the world — as a travel nurse. Additionally, nurses can also specialize in specific areas of practice, from critical care to community health to pediatrics and beyond.
3. Professional Growth Opportunities
Another reason why your answer to the question, “Is being a nurse worth it?” might be “Yes!” is the opportunity for professional growth. When you have a BSN, you can go on to earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with specialty certification.
Doing so gives you access to some of the highest-paying jobs in the profession, which include nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner and nurse midwife. Overall, nurses have ample opportunity to branch out and grow their skill sets, leading to positions where they can contribute to patient care beyond the bedside (e.g., healthcare administration).
4. High Earning Potential
Another one of the top nursing benefits is the salary potential. Even if you decide not to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) (e.g. nurse anesthetist) with an MSN, being a registered nurse (RN) offers favorable earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2022, RNs earned a median annual salary of $81,220.
5. Personal Fulfillment
The diverse work settings, opportunities for professional growth and salary potential are all attractive nursing benefits. Yet, if you were to ask a group of RNs why they decided to become a nurse, you’d likely hear one common response: to make a difference by helping others.
In many cases, patients interact with nurses more than other healthcare providers. Nurses are the ones who provide bedside care, offer words of reassurance and explain the discharge instructions. They help patients and family caregivers through some of the most difficult times in life. If you have a desire to help others, then becoming a nurse may offer personal fulfillment.
6. Nursing Is a Trusted Profession
Another benefit of nursing to consider is the reputation of the profession. Since 1976, Gallup has conducted an annual poll measuring the public’s perception of honesty and trustworthiness in various professions. In 1999, nurses were added to the poll.
Since that time, the only year nurses have not been at the top of the list was in 2001, when firefighters earned the top honor after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The 2023 Gallup poll revealed that 79% of Americans think nurses have “very high” or “high” honesty and ethical standards. This rating is far above all other professions on the list.
7. Employment Opportunities
Still another attractive perk of switching to a nursing career are the virtually limitless opportunities for employment. Nurses are in high demand, due in part to the aging U.S. population. According to the BLS, the estimated job growth rate for RNs is expected to be 6% from 2022 through 2032, faster than average. This indicates that healthcare employers expect to add about 177,400 new nursing jobs through that period.
The estimated job growth rate for APRNs is even higher. From 2022 through 2032, the estimated job growth rate is 38%, much faster than average, according to the BLS.
If you choose to attend the ABSN program at Northeastern University, you can look forward to kicking off your career in 16 months (after completing the prerequisites). Whether you attend our ABSN program near Boston or in Charlotte, you’ll complete the same curriculum that has resulted in successful outcomes time and time again. Furthermore, many of our students receive offers of employment while still in nursing school.
Are you ready to pursue a nursing career? Use these six steps toward making a career change to nursing.
8. Nursing Offers Geographic Flexibility
Thanks to the strong employment prospects, nurses have the potential to work virtually wherever they wish. Nurses are needed everywhere — from major metropolitan areas to suburban neighborhoods to rural farmland communities. They’re needed in top destinations like New York City and remote areas of the Alaskan wilderness. You could potentially settle down and pursue work almost anywhere.
If you have an insatiable wanderlust, however, you don’t necessarily have to settle down at all. You might decide to become a travel nurse — an RN who accepts short-term job assignments lasting a few weeks to a few months. As a travel nurse, you could enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people on a regular basis.
Get Started with Your Nursing Education
If you’ve decided that your answer to the question, “Is nursing school worth it?” is a definite “Yes!” it’s time to get the ball rolling. At Northeastern, your BSN education is a smart investment that may help you achieve your goal of becoming a registered nurse in less time.
To learn more about the value of the ABSN program, contact our admissions team. Now is the time to make your career goals become a reality. You’ll be assigned a dedicated admissions counselor who will walk you through each stage of the application process.
