Annie Zaleski| for Eastwick College
Nurses are the backbone of the health care industry.
They often work hand in hand with doctors to keep offices and hospital departments running smoothly so that patients receive the best care possible.
Accordingly, nurses do things such as recording symptoms, managing care plans, helping with exams and treatments, and administering medications.
Due to an aging population that’s poised to need more medical services in the coming years, nurses are going to become even more crucial to health care in the U.S.
Here are four reasons why nursing is one of the best careers for 2020 and beyond.
1. A nursing-based degree offers an incredible return on investment
Investing in a nursing degree offers huge returns. Specifically, you’ll spend less time — and money — in school and graduate into an industry with high earning potential.
Eastwick College offers several nursing-related programs for students looking to explore this growing field.
The registered nurse associate degree program at the Hackensack and Ramsey campuses— which is considered a licensed practical nurse-to-registered nurse bridge program — is only 18 months of full-time day classes.
The licensed practical nursing diploma program at the Hackensack and Ramsey campuses consists of just 12 months for the full-time day track and 21 months for the part-time program with evening classes.
Program graduates enter a job market that compensates well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2018, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $71,730.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, meanwhile, had a median annual salary of $46,240.
In the New York-New Jersey metro area, the mean yearly salary for registered nurses is even higher — $91,160 as of May 2018 — while licensed practical nurses, on average, earn $55,640 annually.
2. Nursing-related careers are in high demand
For talented nurses embarking on a job hunt, employment prospects are bright.
Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released in early September showed that between 2018 and 2028, the field of registered nursing is projected to add more than 371,500 jobs, an increase of 12%.
The health care industry is poised to add 78,100 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses during that same time frame, an increase of 11%.
In contrast, the growth rate between 2018 and 2028 for all occupations is estimated to be just 5%.
3. Nursing offers plenty of career flexibility
The career flexibility of nursing is almost unparalleled.
Not only are nurses in demand all across the country — meaning they have employment options no matter where they decide to live — but they’re also needed in many different settings.
Nurses work in hospitals and doctor’s offices, of course, but they also work in rehab facilities, nursing homes, schools, and government entities, as well as in private residences providing home-based services.
Nurses can even travel abroad to underserved countries and use their skills to help people who might not have easy access to health care.
Plus, registered nurses can develop areas of expertise that could potentially open up additional employment avenues.
For example, oncology nurses work with cancer patients, cardiovascular nurses focus on all things heart-related, and pediatric nurses work with children.
4. Post-degree, nurses can hit the ground running
After going through a nursing program, most students are prepared to start a new job immediately.
That’s in large part due to the curriculum, which covers the science, math and nursing topics they’ll use at work.
At Eastwick, students also get hands-on experience in a hospital lab setting that has cutting-edge patient simulators with realistic vital signs.
Clinical rotations are also included as part of nursing students’ schedules, which helps expedite the time it takes to enter the field, since candidates already bring experience to the table.
Plus, both the licensed practical nursing diploma program and registered nursing associate degree track build in time to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination, a test all nurses must take to become licensed.
In fact, Eastwick has found that local employers often reach out to praise the skills and talents of its nursing graduates.
Nursing is a rewarding field with positive earning potential and growth opportunities. Best of all, getting started in this career is something that can be done in just a few short years or less, meaning a new job is within reach.
Eastwick College’s registered nurse program at the Ramsey campus offers a combination of hands-on experience and cutting-edge coursework. Call the admissions office at 201-989-1131 or visit eastwick.edu/program/registered-nursing and learn more about why this degree track can open doors to a steady career.
Members of the editorial and news staff of USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.
