Are you a student and need to choose a future career? Or maybe you are tired of your current job and want to switch to something more exciting and rewarding? Nursing is a dynamic career that lets you use your expertise and passion to make a difference and improve the lives of people in your community. This job is also challenging and offers many opportunities for you to grow.
But those are just a few benefits of choosing nursing as a career in Australia. There are many more! So, to get you inspired, here are eight reasons why you should consider becoming a nurse.
1. Nurses Are in High Demand
The Australian population is aging with each passing decade. In fact, in 2020, around 16% of the population, or 4.2 million people, were above 65. Furthermore, in 2014, the government has noted that Australia will need at least 123,000 more nurses by 2030.
Another thing to consider is that the average age of a nurse or midwife in the country is 42. That means that many of them will retire in the next ten to fifteen years, which will come with many job openings.
All things considered, Australia needs more nurses, and as the years go by, that need will only increase. Hence, if you choose to become a nurse, you can be sure finding employment will not be an issue.
When you have completed some foundational clinical work experience you can also become in-demand picking up on-demand work uPaged. The more in-demand your specialty is, the more you’ll earn.
2. High Salary
In Australia, pay rates for nurses are among the highest in the world! Of course, the exact amount of your nursing salary will depend on many factors, such as your level of education, experience, location, and the kind of nurse position you want to fill.
The average salary is $78,000‒$110,000 per year, and that number will grow as you move up the ranks. Furthermore, there’s an option of working overtime and earning additional money. Your hourly wages also increase when working on holidays or weekends.
3. The Satisfaction of Helping Others
What makes jobs in the healthcare industry so special is that you can actually see people get better under your care. Furthermore, your work can influence healthcare delivery and, in great measure, decide if someone’s hospital stay will be an overall positive or negative experience.
Your expertise, attention, and kind words make so much difference to those who are ill and weak, as well as to their families. So, if you are a compassionate and strong-valued person, this career is definitely the right fit for you.
4. Room to Grow Professionally
While most people imagine nurses in hospitals, many other places need them as well, such as schools, home care facilities, and government agencies.
As far as the career pathways go, there’s a variety of them you can consider. For instance, if you enjoy helping elderly people, you can work in aged care. There are also rehabilitation centers for those who prefer to help people recover from injuries. In addition, you can pick mental health, community care, midwifery, and many other areas.
While working as a nurse, you will learn a number of important skills, and you can also gain different levels of certification. You will probably start as an Assistant in Nursing under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, but you might end up as a Nurse Manager. As you grow in knowledge and experience, you will move up the ranks and maybe even teach nursing to others one day (Nurse Educator).
5. Flexible Schedule
Nursing work is often flexible because it is organized into shifts. That means you’ll be working different days throughout the week. During those days, you’ll probably have to pull off long shifts, sometimes even at odd hours. But, generally speaking, nurses work around 35 hours a week in Australia.
The advantage of this kind of work is that you can put all your efforts into a few days and then relax and enjoy your days off. However, if that doesn’t sound appealing to you, community nursing and clinics have more regular hours.
6. Excellent Working Conditions
As a nurse, you get to enjoy a great working environment in both public and private hospitals. Additionally, you have the opportunity to work in some of the best clinics in the world. Australia also has a healthy nurse-to-patient ratio, which should reduce burnout, and — if that hasn’t convinced you yet — you also get paid annual holidays.
7. The Most Trusted Profession
Currently, there are around 450,000 registered nurses and midwives in Australia. This occupation is well respected and considered very important. There’s even an International Nurses Day.
Nurses are highly trusted, as highlighted by Roy Morgan’s Image of Professions Survey, where, in 2021, 88% of people rated nursing as the top profession for honesty and ethical standards.
8. You Can Travel Around the Country
For those who don’t like to stay in one place for long, a nursing career offers plenty of opportunities to travel around the country. For one, since the position is in high demand, you can move to different places and parts of Australia without worrying about whether you’ll find employment. In addition, the flexible schedule and work in shifts leave you with a few days off to go exploring around the new area.
Final Thoughts
Aside from the high job security, good salary, and opportunities to grow, there are other less visible benefits to becoming a nurse. In reality, only a few careers are more inspiring than nursing. Although this career includes challenging times, you also get to see people defeat the odds and share heart-warming moments with patients and their families.
