Is nursing a good career? The pros of a nursing career include high earning potential, increased demand for nurses and diverse specialization and advancement opportunities. While the cons include long working hours and physically demanding shifts, many nurses find the pros far outweigh the cons.
Is nursing a good career? Nurses are highly respected, have high earning potential, experience job stability and have many advancement opportunities; however, there are some challenges. Only you can decide if nursing is a good career for you.
Nursing is an immensely rewarding career you can be proud of. At Harding University, we are experienced in helping individuals change their careers and become nurses. Through the accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program, you can earn a degree in as few as 16 months and put yourself on the fast track toward becoming a nurse.
The Pros of Being a Nurse
Nursing is a fulfilling career where no two days are the same. With dozens of specialties and work environments to choose from, you can find the area of nursing that best suits your strengths. Consider these pros of being a nurse to help you decide whether nursing is a good career for you.
Nurses are in High Demand
A national nursing shortage has created high demand for nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow by 6% between 2023 and 2033, while Arkansas projects an 8% growth in nursing employment.
The nursing shortage is the product of many factors, including:
- The growing needs of an aging population
- Retirements outpacing new hires
- Lack of workforce support
A nursing faculty shortage has made it difficult for nursing schools to produce the workforce needed to meet this heightened demand. Fortunately, at Harding University, the ABSN program is poised to enroll more nursing students than other programs.
With rolling admissions and three start dates each year, we can enroll more students while keeping class sizes small.
You will experience job security as a nurse due to the high demand for your expertise. And through Harding’s ABSN, you can earn a degree quickly and enter the workforce sooner than through traditional programs.
Nurses Have High Earning Potential
One of the many pros of being a nurse is the high earning potential. Nurses are highly skilled professionals who are trusted with a great deal of responsibility and are compensated accordingly.
The 2024 national median annual salary for registered nurses was $93,600, while the median annual salary for the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas, metro area was $82,170. While this is lower than the national median, remember that the cost of living in Arkansas is lower than in other states. Registered nurses make nearly double the median salary for all other occupations in Arkansas.
Nursing is a Rewarding Career
Is nursing a good career? In addition to job security and high earning potential, nursing is also a rewarding and respected career. Nurses spend more time with patients than physicians do, allowing them to foster trust with patients and their families.
In a recent study, day shift and night shift nurses spent nearly 33% of their shifts in patient rooms, while physicians spent about 15% of their day shift in patient rooms and about 18% during the night shift.
Because nurses can spend more time with patients to build relationships and trust, they have consistently ranked No. 1 on Gallup’s annual most trusted professions poll for decades.
Nursing Offers Flexible Scheduling
Another pro of being a nurse is the variety of scheduling options. Nurses can work full-time, part-time or as needed by the facility. These nurses are referred to as PRN nurses, short for “pro re nata,” meaning “as needed.”
The most common types of schedules for nurses include:
- 12-Hour shifts, three days a week
- Four 12-hour shifts followed by four days off
- Four 10-hour shifts each week
- Five eight-hour shifts each week
Your nursing specialty and work environment will influence which schedules are available. For example, an ER nurse working in a hospital is more likely to work three 12-hour shifts each week, while a nurse working in a physician’s office is likely to work five eight-hour shifts.
Nursing Offers Career Diversity and Advancement
There are dozens of specialties and advancement opportunities available to nurses. Nurses can specialize in medical conditions, procedures and patient populations. For example, you can pursue oncology, medical-surgical or neonatal nursing.
You will have opportunities to explore many of these specialties during clinical rotations while in nursing school. At Harding, our clinical partnerships with Mercy Hospital Northwest, Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital allow you to explore the following nursing areas:
- Adult health
- Community health
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
Nurses can also advance their careers and pursue higher earning potential by becoming charge nurses or nurse managers. Or, they can return to school to earn a Master of Science in nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. APRN roles include:
- Nurse practitioner
- Certified nurse midwife
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist
- Clinical nurse specialist
They can also move away from the bedside to become informatics nurses or nurse educators.
Learn all the career options you can pursue with a nursing degree.
The Cons of Being a Nurse
While you can answer “yes” to “Is nursing a good career?,” the career has its challenges. It’s important to keep the cons of being a nurse in mind while remembering that it’s possible to mitigate these challenges. For many nurses, the pros still outweigh the cons.
Nursing Can Be Physically Demanding
Nursing is a physical job. You will spend your shift on your feet, constantly moving from room to room. While there might be some time to sit during a break, you will be active most of your shift. You will also need to lift patients and assist with their activities of daily living. Regular exercise is essential for managing the physical demands and reducing the chances of injury.
Nursing Requires Emotional Resilience
One of the unavoidable cons of being a nurse is that the job can be emotionally taxing. While building relationships with patients is one of the reasons many nurses love their jobs, it can make the loss harder. Nurses must be emotionally resilient.
A support system at work and home can help you through these challenges. While caring for your physical health as a nurse is essential, it’s equally important to care for your mental health.
Nurses Work Long Hours
Nurses work long shifts, often 10 to 12 hours each. These long days can be straining, but nurses typically work fewer days a week, unlike many other professions. While you might have four 12-hour shifts in a row, you will have the following four days off.
This scheduling flexibility allows you to be present for your family, friends and other obligations. As you enter a nursing career, pay close attention to how you feel after each shift and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Ready to take the next step? Learn how to become a nurse with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Is Nursing the Right Career for You?
While there are many clear benefits to becoming a nurse, from high earning potential to advancement opportunities, only you can answer the question, “Is nursing a good career for me?” Nurses must be lifelong learners, compassionate and emotionally resilient to provide patients with the high-quality, dignified care they need.
Your nursing program will prepare you for both the pros and cons of nursing. At Harding, the ABSN program will challenge and support you as you acquire the skills and knowledge needed to become a compassionate, practice-ready nurse.
The ABSN program includes online coursework, hands-on nursing skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations. Each curriculum component builds on the other, allowing you to exercise sound clinical judgment in various complex scenarios. Upon graduation, you will be ready to take the NCLEX-RN confidently, earn your nursing license and start practicing as a registered nurse.
Take the First Step Today
Is nursing a good career? A nursing career offers high earning potential, ample specialization and advancement opportunities and job security, all while you make a meaningful and positive impact on your community. At Harding University, our ABSN program can put you on the path toward becoming a nurse and experiencing all the career has to offer.
Our admissions counselors are available to help you navigate each step of your nursing admissions journey, while our academic success coaches will support you to graduation. Contact an admissions counselor to learn how you can start your nursing journey today.