It’s not always easy to figure out what to do with your life. Even if you have a certain career path in mind, such as working in healthcare, the options remain numerous. There is a wide range of specializations that work together to provide the best possible treatment for patients, and your choice will have profound effects on not just your professional life but also your academic and personal pursuits.
Maybe you’re on the fence about whether or not to pursue a career in nursing or to become a doctor. Both professions have a positive impact on society. If you’re passionate about working in the medical field, these are the two that will give you the best opportunity to realize your goals. Nevertheless, there are noticeable distinctions between doctors and nurses, which complicates the decision. The decision ultimately rests in your hands, although there are compelling arguments to suggest that nursing may be the superior profession. The following are some considerations that suggest nursing is a more appealing career path to take, although the choice will always be yours.
Nurses Are On The Front Line Of Patient Care
A nurse’s constant presence on the front lines of patient care is a major reason why they have such an impact on the world of medicine and the lives of the people they serve. After a diagnosis has been made, nurses take over; they give patients their medications, set them up on intravenous fluids, change their bandages, wash them, and comfort them if they are frightened or scared. They exist to guide a speedier and less difficult recovery process.
Nursing is the perfect profession for those who wish to work in healthcare yet prefer frequent face-to-face interaction with patients. Patients will be relieved to see you and happy to have you there since you are the one they want by their side. They may indeed value visits by their doctors, but the nurse-patient relationship offers a unique opportunity for intimacy and influence. Keep in mind that as a nurse, you’re not just dealing with the “medical” side of healthcare; you’re also dealing with the “holistic” side, which is equally as crucial, and you’re the one doing the work to get there.
There Is Less Studying
Never doubt that becoming a nurse is hard work, but with programs such as those offered at Holy Family University, it is definitely something anyone can at least look into. The convenience of an online format like this one is that you can go at your own pace (for example, if you are working at the same time). Still, if you compare that to the eight years it takes to become a doctor, the time spent in school is quite short.
No matter which route you choose in the medical field, continuing education is an absolute must if you ever hope to rise to the upper echelons of the profession. However, the truth is, you can begin that career much earlier and get valuable experience and knowledge through on-the-job training and hands-on caregiving if you opt for nursing. Nursing has to be preferable to medical school for individuals who are eager to start making a difference in the world but don’t have as much time to devote to school.
Nurses Have More Career Progression Opportunities
As has been stressed multiple times, nurses possess a diverse set of abilities that can be put to good use in a variety of contexts. This means that nurses, unlike doctors, have a lot more room to grow in their profession. Unlike doctors, who tend to specialize in one area of medicine and remain there, nurses have the flexibility to work in nearly any area of their healthcare facility. The implications of this are obvious: nurses have many more career options than doctors do since they are free to switch specialties at any time. At the same time, the latter is limited to one (unless they retrain in a different specialty, which will take many years).
Nurses have a lot of career options available to them because their talents are so versatile. This greatly enhances the potential for advancement in your profession. Their nursing expertise and general knowledge will be highly valued, even if they do not meet all of the requirements for leadership positions, for example. Nursing is a great profession if you’re looking for flexibility and independence in your workday.
There Are Jobs
Imagine putting in a lot of time and effort to earn a degree, only to find that there are now no opportunities in your field. Until a better opportunity presents itself, you may need to relocate or take a less desirable position. Due to the current precarious state of the labor market, situations like these occur more frequently than you may imagine. It’s not just doctors who face this problem: many others also complete their education only to discover there is no suitable employment waiting for them upon graduation. They are either forced to devote more time to school, settle for a career that doesn’t satisfy their needs, or uproot their lives altogether.
For nurses, this is not the case. There is a need for nurses all throughout the world, so you should have no trouble finding work once you’ve completed your education and certifications in the field. Given the anticipated shortage of registered nurses, it’s probable that you’ll have your pick of available opportunities. A shortage of nurses means that the current staff must take on additional responsibility, but the fact that you can find work and make it fit your schedule is a significant benefit. Such employment security is unusual, especially in the current work environment.
In terms of job security, not only will a nurse have an easier time finding work than a doctor, but the position itself will be more secure and last for a longer period of time. Since hospitals and other medical centers cannot afford to lose nurses, they will provide competitive salaries and perks to retain them. Nursing may be the perfect career for you if you’re seeking something stable that will allow you to advance and stay with you throughout your working life.