Read this article. Then make your own career list of the pros and cons of nursing.
With the health care career boom growing by the day, many are flocking to the lucrative nursing field. Of these job seekers, many are single parents juggling family and work. While a nursing degree can lead to a high-paying career, it can also have drawbacks. The pros and cons of nursing vary by family, as each family has its own needs and demands.
Single parents are strained more than couples and may find nursing school difficult, but many options exist for them to achieve a quality education.
Earning a nursing degree is an incredible feat for any student, but is especially impressive for single parents. Requiring critical thinking and countless studying hours, nursing is a demanding major that takes a lot of time and focus outside of the classroom. From clinical rotations to state licensing tests, there are a lot of requirements for the major.
The demands of the degree can put a strain on single parents, but with the right support system and organization, they can certainly be managed.
Nursing degree pros
With everything from family to work clogging the schedules of single parents, full-time classes are often impossible. Luckily, many schools are flexible, offering part-time nursing programs as well as online nursing programs.
While typically taking longer than full-time programs, part-time programs allow single parents to maintain the flow of their everyday lives along with school without overwhelming themselves. For instance, you may still have time to take your child or children to the park or similar.
With such a diverse offering of programs, single parents can explore various schools to find the right fit for their needs. You should figure out what type of nurse you want to be. This is a pro in that the field is vast. Their are clear steps for you to follow, allowing you to determine how much time and money you want to invest.
Read "How to become a nurse" for a break down of steps, types and certifications.
While weighing the pros and cons of nursing, prospective students should learn more about the salary of the career and its benefits to their family. Obtaining a nursing degree can make a world of difference for many single parents. Typically responsible for the financial means of the family unit, single parents need to make a decent salary.
With a salary generally upwards of $40,000 a year and easily expanding beyond that depending on if you pursue a specialization, nursing can bring financial stability to a single-family household.
Other than pay, another huge pro of a nursing degree is that there is always a demand for nurses. With health care needs growing by the day with the aging population, nurses can find work pretty much anywhere.
Job security is invaluable to single parents, as they alone carry their family's finances and need to have a job that won't be eliminated.
An additional pro is the satisfaction you may feel from working hard and helping others. Not to forget the gratitude and support your patients may feel.
A final pro: Nursing is a career you can be proud of. Your child or children will look up to you and aspire to be like you.
Nursing degree cons
A nursing degree con are the long, difficult shifts for nurses. These shifts can stretch over all hours, swallowing up weekends and holidays. This schedule can be less than ideal for single parents, as it can make finding childcare extremely difficult and expensive.
Raising a family alone is difficult in itself, and piling college work on top can be all the more stressful.
The cost of the program could be a con. Compare the cost of the program against savings, expected and unexpected expenses, and previous debt.
Finally, examine the time you can commit to a nursing program or certification. If you want to go far in the field, then you'll need to spend more years in nursing school. Yet, many nurses balance say working in a hospital as they study for the next nursing level or certification.
Despite the anticipated burden, it's important for single parents to weigh the pros and cons of nursing by their unique standards. Once these are carefully considered, single parents can make the decision for what's best for their family's situation.
Classes begin soon. Find your nursing program and apply today!
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