Why Being a Nurse is Still Great: A Career of Stability, Flexibility & Purpose
Why Being a Nurse Is Still Great: A Career of Stability, Flexibility, and Purpose
The nursing profession often comes under scrutiny due to challenges such as high workloads, security concerns, and the need for better compensation. While these are valid concerns, it's important to remember that being a nurse is still a wonderful career choice. Rather than focusing on the negatives, let’s take a look at why nursing remains one of the best professions out there.
1. Stability and Job Security
Me as a Travel Nurse Recruiter
One of the biggest advantages of being a nurse is the job security it provides. Unlike many professions where layoffs are common, nursing offers stability due to the high demand for healthcare professionals.
I personally learned to appreciate this stability when I briefly stepped away from nursing to work as a travel nurse recruiter. In this sales-driven job, I experienced firsthand the anxiety of job instability. When the travel nursing market fluctuated, agencies, including mine, began laying off employees. This was a foreign concept to me as a nurse, where I had always been in a position of security. Hospitals and healthcare facilities consistently need nurses, often more than nurses need them.
Moreover, nursing offers a predictable income. Unlike sales jobs where earnings fluctuate based on commission, nursing provides a steady paycheck. You know what your paycheck will be, and if you want to earn more, you have the option to pick up extra shifts. Plus, unlike commission-based jobs, nurses actually get paid when they take a vacation!
2. Flexible Scheduling Options
Nursing offers unparalleled flexibility when it comes to scheduling. Full-time, part-time, per diem, nights, days, weekends-only—the options are endless. This flexibility is something I truly began to appreciate after becoming a mother. I’ve worked with nurses who worked night shifts to avoid childcare costs, weekend-only schedules to be home with their kids during the week, and part-time roles to free up time for other pursuits.
Not many professions allow you to work three days a week and have four days off. While 12-hour shifts can be exhausting, they also offer opportunities to rest, handle personal errands, or even pursue a side hustle. I currently balance my time between being a Clinical Nursing Instructor two days a week and running my coaching business. Nursing makes this possible by offering part-time roles that provide financial stability while I grow my business at my own pace.
If you're a nurse interested in launching a side business or passion project, nursing is an excellent career that supports these endeavors. Unlike other fields that demand rigid full-time hours, nursing gives you the space to diversify your career while maintaining income stability.
3. Endless Career Opportunities
One of the most exciting aspects of nursing is the variety of career paths available. If you enjoy learning and growth, you will never be bored in this profession.
Throughout my 13-year nursing career, I’ve worked in various specialties, including med-surg, the emergency department, nursing management, long-term care, and surgical services. I’ve also worked in different settings, such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgical centers, and now academia.
And the options don’t stop there! Nurses can move into non-traditional roles, such as remote nursing, medical device sales, legal nurse consulting, nurse coaching, and more. With new roles constantly emerging, the profession proves time and again that it is essential far beyond the bedside.
Regardless of where you are in life—whether paying off student loans, starting a family, or seeking a softer work-life balance—there’s a nursing role that fits your needs.
4. Lifelong Medical Knowledge and Advocacy Skills
Being a nurse means understanding a “secret language” of medicine, which is invaluable in both professional and personal life. Nurses can effectively advocate for their loved ones in ways that most people can’t.
I realized the true power of nursing knowledge when my sister became gravely ill with a strep infection that led to sepsis. My mother, also a nurse, was instrumental in ensuring my sister received the right care. She performed CPR when my sister became unresponsive, demanded specialized treatment, and advocated fiercely for her well-being. Seeing my mother’s determination and medical knowledge in action solidified my decision to become a nurse.
Today, I use my nursing knowledge daily to assess my children's health, guide my family on medical decisions, and ensure we navigate the healthcare system effectively. Understanding medicine and being able to advocate is a lifelong advantage that few other professions provide.
5. The Incredible People You Meet
One of the best parts of being a nurse is the people you meet along the way. Nursing school fosters lifelong friendships because you endure one of the toughest academic challenges together. The bonds formed in the workplace are just as strong.
My husband and I at my nursing graduation in 2012
In healthcare, you meet resilient, hardworking, and compassionate individuals who understand your daily struggles. You develop dark humor, share inside jokes, and support each other through the toughest days. I met some of my best friends in nursing school and the workplace—including my husband!
These connections last a lifetime. You may switch hospitals, but you’ll inevitably cross paths with former coworkers. The nursing world is small, and the relationships you build will open doors to future opportunities.
Final Thoughts: Nursing Is Still a Great Career
Despite the challenges, I firmly believe nursing is one of the best career choices. Nurses enjoy job security, stable and predictable income, flexible work schedules, endless career opportunities, valuable medical knowledge, and incredible professional relationships.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by negativity in the profession, I encourage you to take a step back and appreciate the unique advantages nursing offers. We have the power to create change in our field while also recognizing the incredible aspects of our work.
I am proud to be a nurse, and I hope this post reminds you why you should be, too!
Caroline
PS. Want more on this topic? Listen to Life After Nursing School Podcast Episode 8