2020 was a year of turbulence and trials for the healthcare industry and the entire world. There is still a growing amount of pressure on healthcare workers to work beyond their capacities.
Apart from doctors, hospitals, and global healthcare organizations, the impactful role of primary healthcare providers, namely registered nurses (RN), has evolved.
Nurses are the first point of contact whenever a patient visits any healthcare facility. However, becoming a nurse is not the end of the road. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of a nurse has become more challenging than ever.
From making sure every patient is accommodated, regardless of their condition, to planning in advance for new variants of the virus and maintaining an optimum supply of protective and medical equipment, nurses have a lot on their plate.
The shortage of primary care providers has increased the demand for nursing education.
Before applying for an online nursing course, below is a list of factors you should consider.
Better job opportunities
Upskilling is a buzzword in the job sector, whether starting your own business or improving to take up better nursing jobs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, demand for online courses and certifications has increased.
Even recruiters give preference to individuals who have been learning to improve in said field. In this case, the pandemic has enforced a situation where nurses are expected to take up more responsibilities, for example, in the management or logistics department, to serve the growing patient body better.
However, given the nature of a professional nursing job, signing up for an in-person class or course can be time-consuming and financially burdensome. In addition, given the rise in online professional courses, the demand for online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program has also skyrocketed.
Online certifications to upskill as a professional nurse would allow you to take up more specific roles like a nurse educator, manager, or anesthetist. Depending on your interests, there are numerous courses for streamlining your nursing career from the comfort of your home.
Scale-up as a nurse
Another obvious benefit of upskilling as a nurse is the financial gain from taking up better job opportunities. For example, the pandemic has exposed us to a shortage of primary care providers and called for specialized roles, like a nurse-midwife or nurse anesthetist. Since specializing in a specific domain within the nursing field requires extra effort and experience, recruiters are willing to offer more financial rewards for that.
Some high-paying nursing roles like that of a nurse educator offer a median annual salary upwards of $90,000.
Regardless of which specialization one opts for, the mere act of upskilling to focus on one area within the nursing role promises high monetary benefits.
Positive Career Change
Shifting gears within your nursing career’s trajectory can be a risky move, but it offers abundant benefits. The job sector might seem dwindling given the pandemic’s impact on the economy, but taking this opportunity to skill up and shift to a role that is more in demand will only bring positivity to your life. Furthermore, the added benefit of providing your services and expertise in a critical time like 2022 can positively impact your life.
Indeed, this would also lead to increased job satisfaction because, essentially, you would have improved upon your skills to change the health sector, which needs extra support in these trying times.
Nursing is a very emotionally and physically challenging job. Therefore, the opportunity of becoming a nurse educator might relieve you from some of the stress that comes from working with patients. In addition, being a nurse educator is relatively less stressful as it involves preparing a future workforce of front-line warriors.
Regardless of which nursing specialization you opt for, it is bound to bring a positive sense of self to you.
Now that we’ve covered why you should consider streamlining your nursing job through online courses, let’s discuss how you can prepare yourself for this new role.
How to upskill as a nurse
Mentorship
Every job or skill requires learning, but learning something new is not always easy. One of the main ways of shifting your career or job is to find someone who has been on that path before and can guide you. For example, finding a senior nurse or doctor at your health facility would help you understand the initial difficulties of changing jobs, the responsibilities involved, and the skills or qualifications you might have to work on.
Mentorship does not have to rely solely on one person. It would be best to talk to a broad range of individuals within your field. Try to get as many insights as you can on the daily challenges of the role you’re about to step in, what benefits the career change would bring in, and whether this is the right thing for you.
Build on your skills and expertise
As mentioned earlier, COVID-19 has imposed significant challenges on the education sector. In the past two years, a rise in online courses and certifications has evolved the possibilities of learning a new skill.
Take these trying times as an opportunity to get a specialization or degree in your area of choice.
Many nursing specializations are being offered, as nurses are in demand everywhere. There are so many avenues to explore, from assisting in clinical research to administering hospital management to working as an educator.
Take up extra roles and responsibilities
When culinary students are starting, they are often hired as apprentices before making it big as head chefs in an upscale restaurant. Not that upskilling as a nurse requires you to start from scratch, but you can volunteer for roles unknown to you to get an insight. For instance, someone looking forward to working as a nurse anesthetist can assist an anesthesiologist in understanding the ins and outs of this job. Before you progress to a new role, make sure you have had a clear understanding of what the job entails and preferably some on-filed experience within that domain.
(Conclusion)
Taking up a new job or new role can be daunting. Particularly looking forward to upskilling as a professional nurse can be risky, but the risk can be averted with the right guidance and resources. Nurses have always been the first ones to serve patients as they evaluate their health needs and make sure the overall healthcare system is streamlined. It is a job that evolved great focus and expertise and increased a sense of satisfaction.