By JULIA MERRILL 

Being a nurse is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. Nurses enjoy substantial benefits and great job security, and there are plenty of different paths that you can take once you have a little experience. For example, you could fight to promote a healthier population as a health policy nurse, get involved in chronic disease innovation as a nurse researcher, or even start a website to help bridge the gap between medical providers and their patients. If you’re curious about nursing and wondering how you can launch your medical career, keep reading! 

Decide If Nursing Is Right for You 

Many people are attracted to the nursing field for the pay, benefits, and stability. However, if money is the only thing driving you, you will not thrive as a nurse. Nurses need to have compassion for others, dedication to their profession, and a lifelong passion for learning.  

To succeed as a nurse, you will have to thrive in fast-paced environments while maintaining a sense of calm in the face of chaos, which can be challenging even after years in the field. You will also have to consider your ability to cope with challenging emotions when choosing your specialty. For example, emergency room (ER) nurses and critical care nurses need to possess a high degree of emotional strength to work through tough situations while still displaying care and compassion for patients and their families. You will have to develop an effective self-care strategy to prevent anxiety and chronic stress from affecting your health.  

Choose Your Path 

Do you know what kind of nurse you want to be? Nurses have plenty of flexibility to pursue careers in various specialties and industries. Think about where you want to take your career so you can pursue the right kind of education. For example, if you want to get involved in chronic disease management, it’s a good idea to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. Most nurses start as a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) and then specialize as they gain experience on the job. RNs typically have more flexibility when it comes to career options and can work in a wide variety of medical settings. 

Pursue an Education 

Once you have a general idea of the direction you want to go with nursing, you can start looking at your options for education. There are a few different educational pathways to becoming a nurse. For example, you can start out with a simple two-year diploma or a four-year bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN). You could also pursue a two-year associate degree. While a higher-level education may be necessary to secure a role in medical research or health leadership, you can always further your education later on. Through online universities like WGU, you can pursue an online master’s degree in nursing or healthcare without putting your career on hold. 

Advance Your Career 

Due to the wide range of nursing roles available, nurses have several opportunities to advance their careers. You’ll enjoy the greatest satisfaction in your work if you’re always reaching for higher positions and purposes. For example, after starting as a nurse in a hospital setting, you could try taking your skills on the road as a travel nurse. If you’re looking for higher pay, going after a job as a certified registered nurse anesthetist will reward you with the highest pay among all nursing professionals. Investing in your education is one of the best ways to open new doors in your nursing career.  

Starting a career in nursing is a wonderful opportunity to give your life a greater purpose. Whether you want to provide compassionate care to patients in a hospital setting or pursue a role as a healthcare researcher, becoming a nurse is an excellent way to launch your new career. Start researching your educational options today so you can plan out the path that will best align with your career goals.  

Julia Merrill is on a mission. She wants to use information to close the gap between medical providers and their patients. She started Befriend Your Doc to do just that. The site offers an abundance of information from tips on finding the right medical care to help with dealing with insurance companies to general health and wellness advice and more. Visit www.befriendyourdoc.org