The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives for two years. Thanks to research and vaccinations, we are resuming our everyday lives. The biggest gratitude we owe to is nurses. The pandemic highlighted the monumental role nurses play in the healthcare sector. In the early days of the pandemic and lockdowns, nurses formed the field health worker teams that tested and screened people for the novel coronavirus. The nurses’ efforts led to widespread testing numbers. These efforts received widespread attention and have resulted in the healthcare sector prioritizing recruitment for nurses’ higher education for management roles. This article will highlight 6 reasons to pursue a higher nursing degree.

Without further ado, let us get straight to the article.

Flexibility

Nurses must abide by an extremely strict set of rules regarding their working hours. That is because nurses often relieve each other in the hospital or field-based setting. There is little to no room for margin for error, especially in emergency units where patients’ conditions and life are highly reliant on prompt nursing and medical care. Nursing practitioners, however, have greater flexibility in their working hours. This is due to the desk-based nature of roles in nursing management. In this role, the focus is on catering to the nursing staff rather than patient care. They are given this flexibility to ensure that the nursing staff can operate smoothly as individuals and as a team to provide nursing care.

Demand in the healthcare sector

The demand for nurses with higher education degrees has increased substantially. Nurses with higher education degrees learn health behavior and healthcare management. These degrees focus on equipping practicing nurses with technical knowledge and management skills. For instance, an online Master’s FNP degree trains nurses as healthcare providers for various communities and individuals. It provides structured and focused education for nursing professionals and aspiring nurse managers.

Management skills

Management skills refer to the specific knowledge and skills of human resource management, finance and budgeting, and administration. Nurses with field experience learn these skills as part of the job without foundational theoretical knowledge and management tools. Higher education programs highlight the importance of using structured approaches and practical examples to highlight the importance of this knowledge in their highly time-sensitive working environment. Nurses learn the usage of software such as MS Excel under these higher education degree programs. The aim is to harbor efficient management and IT skills amongst nursing professionals. Nurse Managers and supervisors with these skills can provide better patient-centered care and care for nursing staff without distressing over management details.

Leadership roles

Nurses with experience become qualified for leadership roles in their respective healthcare organizations. However, organizations need and promote nurses equipped with higher education to take on important roles. Nurses with a master’s degree have greater agency in the roles they can choose. Not only can they opt for nurse managers and supervisors positions, but they can also explore healthcare programming and research departments. Their years of experience as a nurse combine well with knowledge and skills of leadership that come through higher education degrees. Other than getting a degree in nursing, nurses can also get online certifications to upgrade themselves and learn modern ways to take care of the management part of the organization other than taking care of the patients. Moreover, nurses with higher education can also be role models of aspiring nurses to pursue education no matter what stage of their career.

Autonomy

Nursing practitioners with higher education degrees also experience greater autonomy in their respective roles. They have the room to make decisions concerning the nursing staff. Experienced nursing practitioners relish this autonomy to shape their teams. They can do so by having a say in the hiring and management of nurses. What is better than having the autonomy to perform duties and take care of patients? It is one of the perks if a nurse decides to go for higher education and get the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge.

Getting higher education is not only important for nurses or doctors to excel in their fields; for instance, if you are a teacher and aim to become a chairperson of your department, other than having ample experience, you also need to have an expert level of education. It will give you a chance to achieve your goal and become more autonomous.

Growth

Nursing as a career choice can be quite rewarding at a personal level. However, nurses’ career and financial growth can stagnate if they do not get higher-level positions or financial rewards for performance. Nurses with higher education degrees can get past this barrier. Hence, they can reap the rewards of nursing as a career choice.

In addition, the consistency of high demand for nurses makes it a stable career choice. Nurses with higher education can progress and grow to become nursing practitioners. This is linked with a direct increment in their income and benefits, providing financial growth and stability. Nursing practitioners who get their due career progression and financial compensation can perform their jobs better. They are also more likely to get a sense of fulfillment for the years of service. This contributes to their overall growth as individuals and helps them get a piece of mind.

Final Thoughts

Nursing is a noble profession, and you need to upskill yourself to remain relevant in the healthcare sector. This way, you not only get financial and growth benefits but will also take care of your patients in a more professional way.

Recent times have demonstrated the need for nursing professionals with higher education degrees. Nurses can transcend their career as nursing practitioners by consolidating their experience with a master’s degree. The degree will focus on endowing existing nursing professionals with management skills. Higher education would increase their demand in the healthcare sector, especially for leadership roles. Furthermore, nursing practitioners gain more autonomy in their operational environments.

Hope the article encourages nurses to pursue higher education for their personal growth and achievements.

Happy Reading.