The coronavirus pandemic has caused widespread disruption around the world. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was unknown until late in 2019, when the outbreak first began. Despite attempts to contain the virus, it quickly spread from the East to virtually every country in the world. To date, there have been nearly 28 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and more than 890,000 deaths attributed to the virus.

While the sobering death rate has sent shockwaves around the globe, it is only the commitment, skill and dedication of healthcare professionals that has prevented it from increasing. Indeed, the bravery of nurses, doctors and other practitioners has shone a new light on the medical profession as a whole.

Sadly, the importance and courage of our healthcare workers has been overlooked far too frequently in the past. Since COVID-19 has wrought havoc around the world, we have been reminded of the critical role they play. You only have to look at the stories of courageous nurses risking their own well-being to deliver frontline care and the response they've received from grateful members of the public to see how valued they are. To learn more about the popularity of the profession, check out this blog post and find out why 2020 is the year of the nurse.

As the novel coronavirus illuminated the medical profession as never before, many people have been inspired to join their ranks. From upcoming students choosing to major in medicine or nursing to current professionals deciding to retrain as healthcare professionals, it appears that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how important our healthcare workers are and how essential their roles are. If you're considering a career in nursing, take a look at some of the reasons why 2020 is the year to begin your journey:

1. Join a Growing Industry

There is a constant demand for nurses in the U.S. and the number of job opportunities is set to grow significantly in the future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of Registered Nurse positions will grow by 7% over the next 10 years, which is significantly higher than average. Similarly, the Bureau predicts that Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse Midwife roles will grow by a staggering 45% in the same timeframe.

As we continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, it's clear that the nursing profession is growing at an exceptional rate. In an era when many people are dealing with job uncertainty and industries have been brought to a standstill due to the impact of coronavirus, the relative job security of nursing makes it an attractive career option for a significant number of people.

2. More People Can Access Healthcare Services

The U.S. healthcare system relies on people having medical insurance or the funds to pay for treatment privately. Due to this, there were a considerable number of people who struggled to access healthcare services when they required them. If they were unable to pay for medical insurance or could not afford to fund deductibles and co-pays, for example, many people were simply unable to access the medical advice, assistance or treatment they required.

Fortunately, new measures have been introduced to ensure that people can access medical care, regardless of their financial status. The Affordable Care Act, along with Medicaid and Medicare programs, have made medical care far more accessible throughout the whole country.

As a result, there is greater demand for doctor's appointments, diagnostic tests, treatment and care. In short, people are now able to access medical care as and when they need it, which means there is a greater demand for healthcare workers, including nurses. For people who want to work on the frontline and deliver medical care where it's most needed, the opportunity to work with disadvantaged patients will continue to grow due to the fact that healthcare is now more accessible.

3. Nurse-Led Services to Increase

Although people are now able to access medical advice and treatment more easily, there are still costs involved for the majority of people. In a bid to reduce medical costs wherever possible, many patients are choosing to use nurse-led services, rather than visit a doctor's office.

Although nurse-led medical services can be noticeably lower cost than the alternatives, patients can be confident that they will be seen by a competent, caring and highly qualified medical professional. Indeed, some studies have highlighted the exemplary patient outcomes under nurse-led diagnosis, care and treatments.

For people who want to take on a nursing role with a higher level of responsibility, such as a Registered Nurse or an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, the increasing demand for nurse-led services indicates a wealth of job opportunities in the future. With the potential for these roles to expand further and for nurses to be given even more autonomy, the responsibilities of senior or advanced nurses could also be increased in the future.

4. Greater Appreciation

In the past, nurses and other healthcare workers have often been overlooked by their communities and by society as a whole. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world just how dependent we are on nurses and how much they deserve our respect and gratitude.

While it is difficult, if not impossible, for members of the general public to truly understand the physical and emotional toll a career in healthcare can take, the majority of people are now more aware of the sacrifices healthcare workers make. As a result, there is more support for nurses across all communities and people are continuing to show their support for all healthcare workers.

Hopefully, COVID-19 will be fully treatable and preventable in the very near future, but this will not dilute the lessons that have been learned in 2020. The virus has impacted our way of life and all generations have been impacted by it. As one of the most serious health crises in living memory, there is no doubt that the respect, admiration, understanding, and gratitude being shown to nurses will continue for generations to come.

5. Have a Major Impact on Society

The Nursing Now campaign culminates in 2020 but the focus on the 'Triple Impact' of nursing will continue. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that empowering nurses leads to:

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To this end, WHO is encouraging healthcare management teams to promote more nurses to leadership roles, involve nurses in policymaking and to invest more heavily in the nursing workforce. Having already declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, it appears that there will be a long-lasting drive towards making nurses more prominent and more powerful within the global healthcare sector.

For anyone joining the profession now, the potential changes could broaden the scope of nursing considerably and enable frontline nurses to take on more responsibility. In short, the renewed focus and appreciation of the role nurses play is coming to fruition, which means it's an exciting time to be part of this evolving profession.

What Nursing Role is Right for You?

If you're considering a career in nursing, you'll want to start thinking about what type of nurse you want to be. In the U.S., there are various nursing roles to choose from, including:

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Both CNA and LPN positions can be obtained following a relatively short training period. You can work as a Certified Nursing Assistant after completing a vocational course lasting between 4-12 weeks, for example. Alternatively, you can qualify as a Licensed Practical Nurse in as little as 12 months.

To practice as a Registered Nurse, however, you will need to undertake more rigorous training. Most employers require RNs to have completed a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), for example. If you want to qualify as a Nurse Practitioner, you will typically need to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or become a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). In addition to this, you'll need to pass the relevant NCLEX exam and obtain state licensure and certification.

While it does take longer to become a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner, this is, of course, reflected in the responsibilities and duties you'll undertake. Furthermore, both RNs and NPs receive higher salaries and have more autonomy in the workplace.

Gain Experience While You Study

Many people qualify as a CNA or an LPN in order to gain experience in the nursing profession. With much shorter training times, this gives you an insight into working life as a nurse and enables you to confirm it's definitely the right career for you. Similarly, if you enroll in an MSN program, you may wish to study on a part-time basis and work as a CNA, LPN or RN while you qualify to become a Nurse Practitioner.

With so many different options available, there is no one, single route into nursing. Instead, you can forge your own path, choose your own specialisms, and work in a variety of different environments. As one of the most exciting and rewarding careers out there, it's no surprise that the routes into nursing are as varied as the job itself.


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