This Week Celebrates National Nurses Week

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are RNs who have earned a master's or doctoral degree in nursing and are licensed to provide expanded health services, such as diagnosing illnesses,  prescribing medications, and administering anesthesia. APRNs include nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered anesthetists.

There are numerous nursing specialties to choose from. Examples include critical care nurses who specialize in treating patients in intensive care units and oncology nurses who care for patients with cancer. Other specialties include emergency room nurses, home health nurses, pediatric nurses, and public health nurses, just to name a few. Nurses who advance their education and seek professional certification have many opportunities to specialize in a number of areas in nursing. 

Nurses have long been among the most highly valued professionals in terms of their honesty and ethics. According to a recent Gallup survey, nurses top the list of the most trusted professionals by a majority of Americans.

"Nurses are trusted professionals and strong advocates for safe, high quality, equitable care and for patients, families, and communities," said Hannah Hughes, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, professor and portfolio director of nursing at UMGC. "Nursing is also an excellent career choice because it offers educational, career, and economic mobility. Having entered the profession as an associate degree nursing program graduate myself, I have a true appreciation for registered nurses whose entry-level nursing education is the associate degree (ADN). I am even more passionate about seeing these nurses advance their education to the BSN, as I did just one year post ADN program completion."

A Great Career Choice: Opportunity, Flexibility, Satisfaction

There are a number of advantages to a career in nursing that set it apart from other options. Nurses benefit from

• Job Opportunity & Security: In choosing a career, it’s important to consider the job outlook. In that regard, there are few fields that compare to nursing. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections show growth in employment of registered nurses of 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

  Because there is always a need for qualified nurses, even in times of economic instability, nurses tend to enjoy a high level of job security. As the U.S. population continues to age, the demand for nurses can only be expected to grow, making nursing a strong long-term career choice.

• Earning Potential: A career in nursing offers more lucrative opportunities compared to many other career paths. According to the BLS, the median annual salary for registered nurses is $93,000. The median salary for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is more than $132,000 per year. Earning a BSN positions nurses to pursue graduate nursing education to qualify for these advanced practice roles.

• Career Flexibility: With so many specialties and healthcare settings to choose from, where you want to work and what you want to do is largely up to you. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies—even the military —all need educated, credentialed nurses. Nurses with a BSN or higher can serve in our armed forces in a nursing capacity.

  The high demand for nurses also makes changing jobs or moving to a different location relatively easy. Whether you want to work part-time or full time, or whether you prefer to work during the day, evening, or overnight shift, being a competent nursing professional can often afford you the latitude to find a position that suits your goals and lifestyle.

• Personal Satisfaction: Being able to make a living doing meaningful work can be extremely gratifying. Not too many careers offer the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives quite the way nursing does. Nurses of every type and specialty derive a strong sense of satisfaction, connection, and purpose from their work.

  In addition, nursing offers opportunities for professional growth, allowing you to advance to positions of leadership, research, and other rewarding areas, especially once you hold a BSN degree.