If you're looking for a profession that's rewarding, stable, challenging and fulfilling, nursing could be your dream job. Becoming a nurse will give you the chance to dedicate your life to helping others in their times of need - something you can feel proud of every single day. So what will people think when you tell them you're a nurse? Here's a little insight into what America thinks of its nurses, courtesy of NursingWorld.org.
• In 2010, Americans voted nursing as the country's most trusted profession - for the 11th time in the past 12 years. According to the Gallup Poll, which measured the honesty and trustworthiness of various professions, 81 percent of survey respondents think nurses have "high" or "very high" ethical standards.
• Nursing is the largest of all healthcare professions, which means that nurses have a large nationwide support group, no matter where they roam. And in an economy where many fields are shrinking and even disappearing, the fact that nursing is projected to grow more than any other occupation in or outside of the health industries between 2008 and 2018 is a major bonus for those who are looking for a stable working environment. Currently, there are 3.1 million registered nurses in the United States - but most hospitals are always looking to hire more!
• Going back to school later in life? Don't worry! Although many nurses begin their careers in their 20s and 30s, the average age for employed RNs is 45.5 - which means that you'll find plenty of people just like you, even if you decide to enter the nursing workforce after you've already started a family. It's never too late to become a nurse, even if it's a second or third career. And if you've been out of the workforce while raising your children, you've still been working on the skills that make a great nurse - like compassion, patience, attentiveness and a caring nature.
• Healthcare in the U.S. is changing, and the nursing profession reflects that. Today's healthcare industry is more patient-focused than the systems of yore, which makes nurses an even more important part of the hospital experience for anyone who is in need of care. Nurses' roles will continue to evolve over time, especially as the United States continues to work on its healthcare system to provide better care to all who need it. As a nurse, you will be at the center of these exciting reforms.
• In 2010, Americans voted nursing as the country's most trusted profession - for the 11th time in the past 12 years. According to the Gallup Poll, which measured the honesty and trustworthiness of various professions, 81 percent of survey respondents think nurses have "high" or "very high" ethical standards.
• Nursing is the largest of all healthcare professions, which means that nurses have a large nationwide support group, no matter where they roam. And in an economy where many fields are shrinking and even disappearing, the fact that nursing is projected to grow more than any other occupation in or outside of the health industries between 2008 and 2018 is a major bonus for those who are looking for a stable working environment. Currently, there are 3.1 million registered nurses in the United States - but most hospitals are always looking to hire more!
• Going back to school later in life? Don't worry! Although many nurses begin their careers in their 20s and 30s, the average age for employed RNs is 45.5 - which means that you'll find plenty of people just like you, even if you decide to enter the nursing workforce after you've already started a family. It's never too late to become a nurse, even if it's a second or third career. And if you've been out of the workforce while raising your children, you've still been working on the skills that make a great nurse - like compassion, patience, attentiveness and a caring nature.
• Healthcare in the U.S. is changing, and the nursing profession reflects that. Today's healthcare industry is more patient-focused than the systems of yore, which makes nurses an even more important part of the hospital experience for anyone who is in need of care. Nurses' roles will continue to evolve over time, especially as the United States continues to work on its healthcare system to provide better care to all who need it. As a nurse, you will be at the center of these exciting reforms.
