Being a nurse is a great career! Whether you’re caring for patients, assisting physicians, or talking with families, no day is ever the same. We polled nurses on why it’s a great time to consider a career in nursing in 2018, and here’s what they had to say.
“At the end of every day, I know I made a difference in someone’s life—every single day. I love being a nurse practitioner.”
—Yudelka Garcia, MS, RN, FNP-BC, Clinical Instructor, Columbia Doctors Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Group
“I love being able to help people recover or maintain their health while still being able to apply critical thinking skills and a knowledge of medicine. It’s always gratifying to have patients express their appreciation to me for taking care of them.”
—Paul Wohletz, BSN, RN, CCRN
“The health of the American nursing profession is as strong as ever in 2018. As an African American male nurse functioning in the role as a Nurse Practitioner, I stand on the shoulders of African American giants in nursing such as Beverly Malone, Elizabeth Carnegie, Mary Mahoney, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman, to name a few. It’s an amazing time to be a nurse and NP in 2018 because the profession and roles are making positive gains and are ever evolving and expanding. The nursing profession is so dynamic, and nurses along with their patients and stakeholders are moving at light speed to eliminate artificial barriers to create a more inclusive, collaborative, collegial work environment without professional constraints or perceived glass ceilings.
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners are not only serving as Chief Nurse Officers, but are also serving with pride and distinction in other capacities including: Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Nurse Scientists, Deputy Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service, Chief Medical Officers, and many more.
The Gallup survey reports nursing as the “most trusted” professionals in the U.S. because of very high honesty and ethical standards. It is our time, right here, right now!”
—Captain James Dickens, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, AANP Board Member-Elect, Manager of the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
“It is great to be a nurse because I get the privilege [of] caring for people in their most vulnerable times…and I get to wear pajamas (scrubs) to work!”
—Jordan Kaczor, RN, BSN, PCCN, University of Kansas Health System
“You have the opportunity to help others who are in need.”
—Moonja Shin, RN, High Focus Centers, Ambulatory Detox, Paramus
“Now more than ever before, nurses are proving to be forces of change in the health care industry. Traditionally, the nurses’ role was limited to the four walls of the hospital. Now, nurses are taking their role as patient advocates to the next level by letting their voices be heard across multiple disciplines. Nurses are increasingly participating at the legislative level through federal lobbying, as well as getting involved in industries including technology, pharmaceuticals, education, and law. Nurses are even playing a larger role in fashion by designing scrubs, and in architecture by helping to design hospital units. It’s an exciting time for nurses as they expand their responsibilities both within the hospital and in their communities, working to affect lasting change in health care. It’s critical our nurses are able to apply their valuable firsthand experience as caregivers and feel empowered to influence leadership.”
—Aparna Bala, MSHI, BSN, RN, Clinical Transformation Consultant, AirStrip
“Nursing is the most fantastic career opportunity of which I am aware. With multiple entry points and endless possibilities ranging from the daily heroism of bedside nursing care to amazing research opportunities, leadership roles, management roles, and my personal favorite: academic nursing. A career in nursing means being surrounded by brilliant, caring people engaged in endlessly fascinating pursuits.”
—Robert Muster, PhD, RN, Regional Dean of Nursing Rasmussen College
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