The field of nursing can be described as both an art and science, a combination of both. It reflects a deep respect for human dignity and understanding of a patient's needs. Rigorous learning practices back these ideas. There is a wide variety of specialties and skills in the nursing profession, and every nurse will have particular strengths, passions, and expertise.
Nurses of the 21st century are integral to the healing process of their patients. A nurse's role spans the entire patient journey, and wherever someone requires care, they work tirelessly to meet those needs.
Nursing goes far beyond its reputation for generosity and compassion. It is a highly specialized one, constantly evolving to meet the needs of society. Nursing plays a vital role in ensuring public health, from accurate diagnoses to educating the public about critical health issues.
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How Can One Become a Nurse?
Nursing is a professional degree in which a person studies the proper functioning of the human body and the possible diseases it can get. Along with the study, they must have proper practice in their field during ward tests to confidently face the real challenges of life. Most of the work nurses are responsible for maintaining an appropriate record of all the patient’s medical conditions, doing personal care, making them feel comfortable, protecting the patient, and helping the patient establish a good relationship with the doctor. A nurse helps the patient to go through the health journey together.
For nursing, you need to do a degree in BSN (Bachelors of Science in nursing) followed by an ASN (Associate degree in nursing) or RN. Similarly, to further enhance their careers, most nurses opt for post graduate nursing certificates. Through these post-grad certificates, nursing professionals can further improve the skills that will help them attain higher positions in hospitals.
What you'll Need to Be a Nurse
Nursing is a profession requiring a good and humble attitude since nurses come across struggling patients, so that a normal gesture will be highly appreciated. Above all, when you choose this profession, make sure you stay committed to it, and learn everything from the heart. Below are a few qualities a nurse should possess.
- Humble attitude
- Good communication skills
- A sense of confidence
- Team player
- Professionalism
- Emotionally strong
- Quick learner
- Open-mindedness
- Physical stamina
- Empathy
High Paying Nursing Job Projections for 2022
Nursing is indeed a lucrative field with a lot of earning opportunities. Therefore, today, we will talk about some of the most highly paying nursing jobs you can opt for as per industry insights and forecasts. However, before choosing any specific field for specialization, we recommend that you consider your preferences and whether you're comfortable working in that field or not.
Let's look at these estimates.
RN Certified in Anesthesia – $171,340
CRNAs are not only the highest-paid nurses in the US, and they are also among the most in-demand jobs for 2022.
The role of the CRNA in contemporary medicine and healthcare is invaluable, as it is the only medical provider solely dedicated to administering anesthesia.
It may take a long time to earn this certification. Still, the independence, expertise as a master practitioner, and salary of this specialization have made it among the most sought-after careers in nursing.
Nursing Practitioners (NP) – $109,025
A nurse practitioner (NP) diagnoses, treats, prevents, and manages medical conditions in nursing.
Clinicians have many options for specializing in their fields, and their salaries will vary depending on the specialty. Some examples include:
- Psychiatry ($123,607)
- Families ($105,898)
- Peds ($105,395)
- Elderly ($172,645)
COVID-19 has significantly worsened the difficulty of finding clinicians and the need for healthcare providers who can prescribe. Therefore, NPs have more opportunities to join fields and become practitioners. Accordingly, NPs are expected to be among the best-paying and most desirable nursing roles in 2022.
Women's Health Nurses L&D Nurses – $171,340
The role of a labor and delivery nurse is indispensable and highly coveted, as it involves monitoring a pregnant woman's vital signs and health condition, assisting with labor induction, and guiding the labor process.
Nurses in the L&D department generally assist OB/GYNs and practicing nurse-midwives (CNMs) with tasks related to the well-being and health of the baby and the mother.
An L&D nurse's average salary will differ depending on the state and type of facility where they work.
Specialist in Clinical Nursing (CNS) – $106,407
CNSs advocate for organizational changes and provide healthcare by specializing in various nursing areas.
This career path will become highly desirable in the coming year as healthcare facilities nationwide reach out to find efficient and effective ways to provide care amid the significant staffing shortage!
Newborn ICU (the NICU) at $101,727
NICU nurses are responsible for caring for infants suffering from various diseases, illnesses, and congenital disabilities.
It is a demanding career, but the satisfaction of seeing a patient begin their life with their loved ones is immeasurable.
Since this has been one of the best-paying nursing jobs for quite some time, interest is rising, making interviewing for jobs more difficult and preparing for this role.
Final Words
Some nursing jobs can give a hefty compensation. It's a challenging job since every patient has a different attitude and ethic, and you have to make them comfortable while going through many challenges. As a whole, nursing is an ethical profession essential anywhere in the world.
Nurses are one of the essential parts of the medical profession, and without them, nothing can work since doctors don't have time to talk to patients or record their entire medical records. Nurses handle these tasks. People no longer think of them as little important and inferior to doctors as they did in the past. Today, it is a need for every doctor, and they have the same rights and respect in society as doctors. Whether a professional is good or bad depends on how serious and passionate you are about it. So, if you have a knack for serving humanity, then this profession is definitely for you.
