Loading ...6 Reasons Why Nursing is an Ideal Course for Adult Learners
If you are unhappy in your current career, you may be wondering whether it is too late to make a change. The short answer is, it is rarely too late to move into a new career, if it is suitable for adult learners, and you have enough time to qualify and work before retiring. Out of all the potential second careers out there, one of the most popular is nursing, which rewards life experience and can be a rewarding, interesting career. Here is why it is the ideal course for adult learners.
1. It is possible to study online
While hands-on experience is essential for nurses, there is also a lot of theory to learn, which means most nurses start off by doing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This can be done online, which means it fits in with your busy lifestyle and can allow you to prepare for registration exams. Many nurses also do further qualifications, such as an online DNP for specialist nursing with Baylor University, which allows them to become a nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse, or one of many other specialisms.
Learning part-time can be another option for those who cannot return to full-time study. At the same time, those who already have a bachelor’s degree can take accelerated programs to qualify faster and advanced medical certification like PALS can be done the same way..
2. Older learners are common in nursing courses
Some adult learners feel self-conscious when they return to study, as they may be concerned that they will be the oldest on the course, or everyone will be fresh out of school.
If you study nursing, you are likely to find a diverse range of ages on your course, from people who’ve just turned 18, to those in their 40s or even 50s, so it’s unlikely you’ll feel out of place on your course. In fact, the average age of an RN is 51, so even when you get into employment, you
Nursing students tend to come from diverse backgrounds too. It is common to share lectures with people from different countries and people who have done a wide range of jobs before nursing. Therefore, the course can be an interesting experience and allow you to make new friends.
3. There are many different roles within nursing
Many people have an outdated view of nursing, perhaps assuming all nurses work onwards and are just assistants to doctors. However, modern nursing covers many different branches and can lead to a wide range of careers.
There are different types of nursing qualifications, each of which suits nurses at different stages in their career, and gives you an overview of the different types of nursing you could get into. This is useful because it means you do not need to decide straight away.
Once you’ve studied one of these branches, you can then go into a wide range of careers and take further qualifications if you wish such as a doctorate that can get you into all sorts of nursing such as:
- Midwifery
- Executive nursing
- Family nursing
- Clinical nursing
- Other specialist fields
This is not an exhaustive list, which means that there are lots of career paths open once you graduate. Some people know exactly what kind of nursing they want to do from day one, while others take a while to choose, and may do a few placements to help them decide before they commit.
4. Nursing can be a stable career
Nowadays, there’s no such thing as a job for life, and there is much less stability in the job market. However, nursing can offer a stable career, as even in a recession, people need healthcare. If you need to move areas or find a new role, there are likely to be job opportunities wherever you go.
The truth is there has likely to be more of a demand for nurses in the future. The American Nurses Association predicts RNs will be the most in-demand role in 2022, and with an aging population, this shortage is only going to grow. Therefore, many more opportunities could open in the future, so it is unlikely you will have to worry about finding a job when you graduate.
5. It can be a well-paid job
Nursing is not the best-paid career, and nobody goes into it because they think they are going to get rich. However, the stability of the job and benefits such as extra payments for unsociable hours can make up for it somewhat. There are also opportunities to better your salary by taking further qualifications, going into leadership roles, or moving into higher pay bands. The average RN salary varies by state, but the national average is around $74k and could well rise if the nursing shortage continues.
6. Nurses are needed in all sorts of locations
When you have a family or connections to a specific area, you will not want to move across the country for job opportunities. The good thing about nursing is, there are likely opportunities close to home, so there is no need to move to an expensive city or face a long commute.
Nurses work in many different locations:
- Teaching hospitals
- Private hospitals
- Physician’s offices
- Clinics – i.e., physiotherapists, chiropractors
- Schools
- Hospices
- Prisons
- In the armed forces
- Psychiatric care facilities
Even if you do not live near a large hospital, there are likely to be nursing jobs close to you. Even in rural areas, there is often a demand for home health nurses or nurses who can run community clinics. For adult learners, this can be great to hear, as they are more likely to have kids and spouses who do not want to move.
Adult learners can have many advantages over their younger classmates, especially in subjects such as nursing, where resilience and life experience can be extremely useful. It is no wonder nursing is a popular choice for those on a second or even third career, and it is never too late to start this career path. There are many ways to get into nursing, whether you already have a degree or decide to take one, and once you graduate, you will no doubt enjoy this satisfying, rewarding career path.
Visit Arab America’s Blog here!