Without a doubt, healthcare is one of the most demanding industries in the entire world. Whether you are a nurse aide or a doctor, you will be entrusted with providing lifesaving emotional and physical care to patients in need. The work is already challenging on its own, yet the ongoing HCP shortages have made things even tougher for the remaining staff. Much is asked from our healthcare heroes, on every level.
Despite all this, healthcare work is still well worth considering. People who are willing to make the leap will find a uniquely rewarding line of work, on every level. It may be difficult, but HCP professions are fulfilling in ways that most industries simply cannot compare to. If you remain unconvinced, we have laid out a couple of reasons why you should consider entering the field of healthcare.
Healthcare Workers Get to Travel
Wherever you go, HCP work is in extremely high demand. This is the case in Colorado as much as it is in Georgia, Tennessee, Arizona, and more. Thanks to this fact, HCPs have the unique opportunity to travel across the country to pick up work wherever. Not only can they take in all kinds of sights and experiences, but they can also gain valuable work experience in a variety of different settings and contexts. If you book a job with a travel nurse agency, you get to do this while your agency covers your travel costs and expenditures, along with a number of other benefits (depending on the agency.) If you practice in one of the 40+ Nursing Licensure Compact states, you effectively possess multistate licensure that lets you practice in any of the NLC states unimpeded.
Hcps Are Well-Compensated
Healthcare is an industry that has only risen in demand over recent years. As you might expect, HCPs up to a certain level are compensated handsomely for their efforts. For context, Registered Nurses make $77,600 on average, each year. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) represent the highest level of nursing and are some of the best-compensated medical professionals in the entire country. Certified nurse anaesthetists can earn an average of $205,770 each year.
It is important to keep in mind that your compensation will vary, depending on a number of factors. While Certified Nursing Assistants are still valued in the workplace, they understandably earn less compared to their RN counterparts. Your compensation will also depend on a number of factors, such as additional certifications, work experience, reputation, your state of operations, and more.
Hcp Work Is Extremely Satisfying
Though HCP work is demanding, it is also satisfying and uniquely rewarding. Though satisfaction levels dipped during the pandemic, they still remain at an impressive 71%. Upon reflection, this makes sense. Nurses, doctors, and physicians are literally in charge of protecting entire communities. With the latest medical advances, quick judgment, and a wealth of medical knowledge, they improve and save the lives of the patients they work with, each and every day.
In addition, they must provide emotional support to said patients, who are going through difficult struggles in their lives. It is true that no facility or HCP is 100 percent successful, each time. However, the feeling of helping people recover or rebound from serious illnesses and conditions is something that has no comparison, in another field.
Healthcare Work Is Extremely Active
If you prefer a passive, low-stress environment, then healthcare may not be the profession for you. For individuals who thrive under pressure and seek a greater challenge, however, there may not be a better route for you than healthcare. Over long shifts, HCPs are expected to stay on their toes at all times. They need to attentively follow the instructions of their supervisors, to the letter. They have to apply vast knowledge with critical thinking, in order to figure out the best possible medical solutions on the fly.
This is true of every healthcare profession, but it is especially the case if you work in the emergency department or intensive care unit (ICU.) On a nearly daily basis, you will be asked to think on your feet and act quickly, while you are attempting to save the lives of patients who are in critical condition. It takes a special kind of constitution to thrive in such an environment, but certain people thrive in these conditions if not actively seeking them. If you fit this description, then healthcare is certainly the perfect line of work for you.
There Are a Multitude of Career Options Available to You
Healthcare professionals can specialize in a number of different fields and can advance their careers through several paths. As a nurse, you can work in the medical/surgical department, paediatrics, the ICU, cardiology, and more. In the future, you can take on additional certifications and higher education to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), which encompasses roles such as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, and more
These professionals provide highly specialized and in-demand services. Anesthesia in particular is a critical component for several key procedures. As a result, they are among the best-compensated HCPs in the industry. Alternatively, you can find non-clinical roles within the hospital in leadership, administration and education. With regard to career advancement, HCPs have a wealth of viable options to choose from.
Healthcare Professionals Are Highly Regarded
HCPs are among the most respected and admired professionals in the entire workforce. According to a national survey, 79% of American adults believe that nurses hold high “or very high” ethical and honesty standards. Though HCPs have always maintained a high approval rating, the pandemic made clear just how much they sacrifice. Through long shifts, exposure to dangerous diseases, and critical supply shortages, HCPs still continued to provide much-needed healthcare services. Even outside that context, there has long been an understanding of the physical, mental, and moral demands of the healthcare profession. Though not quite as high as nurses, other HCPs graded favorably in this survey as well.
Go Out There!
Pursuing healthcare is no easy feat. It takes a lot of monetary investment and time commitment before you can start practising at all. When you do find a role, HCP work is undoubtedly demanding. You can expect many long shifts, difficult patients, and physically draining work weeks. It takes a special kind of person to thrive in the world of healthcare. If you do fit that mold, however, few jobs in the world can compare. Healthcare professionals have a unique opportunity to leave a mark on the lives of others.
They are highly regarded by their peers, compensated well at a certain level and they improve the lives of the patients they work with. You will find professional opportunities in different departments, specializations, and locations, depending on where your career takes you. Healthcare is the perfect profession for people who want to make a difference and challenge themselves. With a looming healthcare shortage, the demand for talent is greater now than ever before. Though the workforce shortage brings its own challenges, this means that HCPs on all levels have never been more highly sought after. In some ways, there has never been a better time to enter the healthcare industry.
