Most people become a nurse to help others and provide lifesaving care to patients. If you’re pursuing a career in nursing, you’re likely selfless and are happy to put in the work to make a difference in other people’s lives. That said, a career in nursing offers tons of personal and lifestyle benefits beyond just fulfillment.

Working as a nurse can contribute to a healthy lifestyle in ways that other career paths may not. These benefits will make you even more committed to your career and create a rewarding experience for both you and the patient. Here are some of the ways that pursuing a career in nursing can contribute to a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Transferable skills

First and foremost, your job as a nurse is to ensure your patients’ health and wellness. You can use that same knowledge and experience to ensure your and your family’s health and wellness. When you are feeling unwell, or experience an injury, you’ll know exactly how to deal with it and how to assess the severity of the situation.

You know how to properly take care of yourself to ensure you stay in optimal health. When experiencing symptoms, you can deduce what the problem is and potentially deal with it yourself, depending on the severity. Similarly, if your partner or child is sick or injured, you can offer them a level of care that you wouldn’t be able to if you didn’t have the training and experience.

The skills and knowledge you can obtain through enhanced education via DNP FNP programs are directly transferable into life. Not only will they help you advance your nursing career, but also to live a healthy lifestyle yourself and contribute to your family’s health. You’ll likely be the one that all your friends and family members call when they have a question regarding an injury or ailment.

Beyond the clinical skills, you obtain as a nurse, soft skills such as compassion, teamwork, critical thinking, and adaptability are also extremely transferable into daily life.

Flexibility

A work/life balance is essential to living a healthy lifestyle, and a career in nursing can provide that. Although nursing, if often associated with long, exhausting shifts, offers a lot of flexibility in choosing the best structure for your lifestyle. You can choose to work part-time if that fits your life better, or only work weekends. Although nurses work long shifts, they work fewer days a week, giving you the flexibility to plan excursions, time with friends and family, hobbies, and household duties on your extended weekends.

There are many shift options available for nurses since it’s a 24/7 job. If you have no children, you may prefer to work the night shift, having your mornings free to do whatever you please. If you need to work around your children’s schooling, you can do that too. Nursing jobs are very flexible to your needs allowing you to create a schedule that works for you and provides you with the work/life balance necessary to ensure quality performance when you’re on the job.
Healthcare facilities don’t want their staff to burn out as they are performing life-saving work every day. For that reason, employers prioritize the health and wellness of all their staff.

Job security and financial stability

Money is the number one cause of stress among Americans. Stress can have an extremely negative impact on your life, leading to a variety of more severe disorders and conditions such as depression. Constantly worrying about money will affect your way of life and that of your family. Having a secure job will help to put your mind at ease, knowing you’ll always have a steady income you can rely on.

Nurses are in high demand across the county. As the population ages and grows in number, the need for qualified and experienced nurses will continue to rise. By choosing a career in nursing, you will never have to worry about not having a job. The options are endless, and once you become a registered nurse, there are opportunities for advancement, which allow you to pursue other pathways without changing your entire career.

Nurses are also well paid, and your wage will allow you to support yourself and your family without having to struggle. If you choose to further enhance your education, you can expect to make even more in your nursing profession. As a nurse, the highest-paid pathway is a certified registered nurse anesthetist who has a median salary of around $160,000 per year, with the potential to make even more. Although most nurses are not in it for the money, figures like that will help to ease financial stresses in your life.

Comprehensive healthcare and benefits packages

To maintain optimal health, you’ll sometimes need to visit a healthcare professional. Without benefits, many families are unable to afford basic healthcare. As a nurse, you will have access to one of the most comprehensive benefits packages available. While each package will vary slightly, you’ll typically receive comprehensive insurance, which includes medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance. You may also have malpractice insurance, long-term care insurance, and life insurance provided as well. The variety of coverage you’ll have as a nurse means you can maintain your health at no cost.

Beyond the insurance plan that you’ll receive as a nurse, you will also have other benefits. On average, nurses get two weeks of paid vacation each year, as well as 40 hours of paid sick time. If you are seriously injured or have a severe ailment, then you can apply for short-term disability leave, which will cover 2/3 of your total wage while you are unable to work.

Nurses may also have access to tuition reimbursement for any further education they pursue. If you want to upskill and take some courses, speak to your employer as they may cover some or all the tuition fees, depending on where you work. It’s an excellent opportunity to enhance your education and provide the potential for career advancement.