If you’re considering a career in nursing and want to learn about how you can get started, and also how to decide whether or not this is the right career for you, you’re in the right place! We’re going to cover how you can decide if this is the right path, how to get started, choose the right nursing degree, and also the different options longer term if you want to know about progression opportunities.
Speak To People Already In The Industry
The best way to decide whether or not a career in nursing is right for you is to speak to people who are already in the industry. Whilst you can read as much as you want online, nothing will quite prepare you for what the career is like than sitting down with people. If you know people who already work in the industry then that’s great, or if not, then send a few messages on LinkedIn or ask around friends and family to see if they know anyone you can speak to. Having some conversations with experienced nurses or medical professionals about training, day to day life and shifts will be so beneficial. Working in nursing is an extremely rewarding career, however it is also a difficult one, so knowing what to expect is important. Asking the people you’ve spoken to about a day of shadowing or a week of work experience is also important, to help you see what the reality of being a nurse is like and to decide if this is right for you.
Choose The Right Degree For You
Once you’ve decided that nursing is right for you, you need to decide which nursing degree you want to choose. There are so many options, from degrees with a specialism in adult care, children’s care, community health, health and social care courses, apprenticeships and many more. Make sure you read about all of the different degrees and courses to see if a specialism is what you’re looking for. However, if you’re unsure, we’d recommend completing a general nursing degree and you have plenty of opportunities to specialise later on in your career. When choosing your degree, one thing to look out for is the placement opportunities offered, as although your lectures will be really important, you will gain so much from fantastic work placements.
Consider Additional Training To Enhance Skill Set
If you want to focus on progression in the future, then there are plenty of opportunities for you to complete additional training throughout your career to enhance your skill set. There are advanced nursing masters which will help you to progress, then you can also choose other additional training opportunities like becoming a charge nurse, working in acute care, looking into working in management or leadership positions, network with senior healthcare professionals and also consider freelance healthcare writing to pursue as a career later on with more sociable hours. You have so many different options when it comes to enhancing your skill set and progressing in your nursing career.