7 Reasons Why Nursing School is Worth It

Is being a nurse worth it? Is nursing a good career? Only you can determine if nursing is right for you; however, it has many benefits. It is a meaningful line of work offering strong earning potential and a robust job growth rate in Virginia and the nation.

If you are dissatisfied with your current career and are considering returning to school for nursing, you’ll find that nursing school is worth the time, effort and investment. It has the potential to open an incredible new world of possibilities. You could make it your life’s work to help others in need while also enjoying the job’s many perks.

Nursing school is worth it if you’re willing to put in the hard work to earn your nursing degree and licensure. Of course, you won’t be doing it alone. If you enroll in Averett University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you’ll receive extensive student support from start to finish. Plus, you could earn your degree in as few as 16 months.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why nursing school and the career are worth it.

Is Nursing School Worth It?

Those considering entering the healthcare field often do so to make a positive difference in their community. For the past 21 consecutive years, nursing has ranked as the most trusted profession in the eyes of the public. Only you can answer the question, “Is being a nurse worth it?” Consider the benefits below to help make your decision.

1. Healthcare Employers Prefer BSN-Prepared Nurses

Several paths lead toward becoming a nurse. Some people earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), while others choose a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The former is typically a two-year program, while the latter is traditionally a four-year program, except for accelerated nursing programs like the one offered by Averett.

Is a nursing degree worth it? Yes, especially if you decide to earn a BSN. A BSN leads to brighter employment prospects. Hospitals and healthcare providers value a BSN when considering a nurse for employment. For example, Magnet® hospitals now require nurse managers and leaders to hold a bachelor’s nursing degree.

Compared with ADN programs, BSN programs feature more in-depth and immersive nursing curricula.
As such, Averett students graduate with exceptional confidence in everything from basic nursing skills to understanding the factors that lead to significant health and treatment disparities.

In addition, a growing wealth of research indicates that hospitals and other healthcare settings that employ higher percentages of BSN-educated nurses yield better patient outcomes. Consider these statistics from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing:

• Hospitals with a higher proportion of BSN-prepared nurses have lower rates of 30-day inpatient surgical deaths, regardless of whether the BSN-prepared nurses earned a four-year or accelerated degree.
• For every 10% increase in the percentage of BSN-prepared nurses, patients who suffer in-hospital cardiac arrest have a 24% greater chance of surviving.
• BSN-prepared nurses are “significantly better prepared” in 12 out of 16 competency areas pertaining to patient safety and healthcare quality compared to ADN-prepared nurses.

2. National Demand and Mobility

When considering the question, “Is nursing school worth it?” consider your future job prospects. There has been a strong demand for qualified healthcare professionals over the years, and it’s expected to continue. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth rate for RNs from 2023 through 2033 is 6%, faster than the average for all occupations. This indicates healthcare employers expect to hire about 197,200 new RNs through this period.

Nursing requires a human touch and will always need new nurses to enter the workforce, offering job stability unavailable in other professions. As a nationwide nursing shortage persists, the demand for nurses will likely continue. Whether you wish to establish yourself in one facility or travel the country, filling short-term assignments as a travel nurse, plenty of opportunity awaits.

3. Opportunities for Career Growth and Specialization

Another reason why the answer to the question, “Is nursing worth it?”, is an emphatic “Yes!” is the potential for career advancement. After completing your degree, obtaining licensure and gaining a few years of clinical experience, you may head back to school to further your education. If you choose to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), you might become a nurse manager or a healthcare administrator.

Another option is to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This terminal degree represents the pinnacle of academic achievement in the field. With a DNP, you could pursue board certification in your chosen specialty area and become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The main types of APRNs are:

• Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
• Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
• Nurse practitioner (NP)

Another reason earning a BSN is worthwhile is that it provides career options. A BSN can give you a competitive edge when applying to respected hospitals and other organizations.

If you’re not interested in working in hospitals, physicians’ offices or outpatient facilities, or if you want to branch out, you might consider careers such as school nurse, forensic nurse or telemedicine nurse. A BSN can also offer you varied career options in the form of a diverse array of specializations, including:

• Intensive care
• Emergency room
• Labor and delivery
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Medical-surgical nursing

4. Competitive Salaries and Benefits

Although the salary of any registered nurse varies depending on factors such as their employer, years of experience and additional credentials, RNs can generally expect strong earning potential. According to 2023 BLS data, RNs nationwide had a median annual salary of $86,070 and $84,100 in Virginia.

5. Positive Return on Investment

It’s no secret that nursing school is a financial investment. Tuition, additional fees, health insurance, textbooks and supplies can add up quickly. While financial aid, scholarships and grants are available to offset the cost of nursing school and make attending more accessible, enrolling in higher education can be intimidating for many.

However, remember that you will see a return on investment as a nurse. The median salary for registered nurses is significantly higher than the national average for all occupations. Nurses have high earning potential, especially if they earn a graduate-level degree and become APRNs. In addition to the emotional benefits of a meaningful line of work, nursing school is worth the investment.

6. Flexible Work Environment and Schedules

Attending nursing school can lead to a flexible career. With such a high demand for nurses nationwide, nurses can easily find employment. Additionally, they can work full-time, part-time or per diem and choose between day, evening or night shifts. You have the potential to shape your career to best suit your life.

7. Ability to Make a Profound Impact on Patients

Nurses spend more time with patients than physicians. According to a recent study, nurses spent 32.97% of their time in patients’ rooms, while physicians spent 14.73%. Nurses have more time to make a significant impact on their patients than doctors.

Enrolling in nursing school sets you on the path toward a rewarding career. It even allows you to start interacting with patients as a student. During clinical rotations, you will provide hands-on patient care under the supervision of other healthcare professionals.

So, is being an RN worth it? Knowing that your work means something and has the potential to improve people’s lives is a unique benefit rarely found in a career.

Are Accelerated Nursing Programs Worth It?

If you already have a prior non-nursing college education and meet the other admissions requirements for Averett’s program, you could earn your BSN in as few as 16 months rather than having to attend a four-year program.

Averett’s ABSN comprises online coursework, hands-on labs and clinical placements at respected healthcare organizations. The curriculum is designed to help prepare you to become a confident, capable nurse. Students gain the fundamentals through the online coursework, which they then synthesize and apply to real practice in skills and simulation labs.

These in-person labs allow students to practice their skills and familiarize themselves with clinical problem-solving. This ultimately prepares them to provide real-world patient care during clinical rotations at healthcare facilities throughout Norfolk, VA.

Our ABSN program offers three start dates per year: January, May and August. Our admissions advisors are ready to help you through each step of the admission process, including creating an academic plan to complete prerequisites before your target start date.

If you can’t wait to become a nurse, an accelerated nursing program is worth it. The 16-month ABSN program at Averett aims to equip you with the nursing skills and knowledge needed to pass the NCLEX-RN and confidently enter the nursing field. Your new career as a registered nurse becomes accessible when you reach out to our admissions team.

Contact an admissions advisor today and discover if nursing is the right career for you.