In the era of COVID-19, the importance of the healthcare industry is back in the spotlight. The healthcare industry is the subject matter expert leading the way on best practices to stay safe, and research for a possible cure. The response, thus far, has been mixed. This deadly pandemic caught the world off guard and demonstrated the need to better prepare for future pandemics that affect millions worldwide.

This pandemic shined a light on dark problem: the shortage of nurses. If you have been thinking about becoming a nurse, never has there been a time more crucial to do so. To this end, below are four compelling reasons why a career in nursing may be right for you. The industry has changed considerably over the years, and most all the changes work in nurses’ favor.

1) Career Outlook

Right now the projected outlook for job growth is upward. There are no signs that the need for nurses will decrease in the foreseeable future. With just the number of aging baby boomers in the millions and growing older daily, more seniors will have some type of health care needs that require nursing assistance. The long and short of it is that nurses are needed for both the long- and short-term, with that need only increasing.

2) Great Pay

The pay for nurses has finally recognized their worth. Even though there is no price for saving lives, the training and knowledge nurses are required to undergo and coupled with the critical skills they must possess, the pay has finally caught up with the times. Starting salaries for nurses are competitive, and certain specialties pay more than the average starting salaries.

In addition to the financial compensation is the willingness of hospitals and other healthcare offices to put their money where their mouth is. Total packages are a way to reel in the nurses where the competition for their services is at an all-time high. There are vacation days, sick days, time off, and the ever-so popular sign-on bonus, just to name a few of the perks available to a special group of people whose time has come.

3) Career Paths

As medicine becomes more specialized and adaptive to the needs of patients, nursing has evolved, undergoing significant changes to keep up with the changing times. No longer is a nurse just registered: they are specialized in particular fields in everything from pediatric to geriatric and for everyone in between. They can even travel: travel nursing is on the cutting edge of innovation and is helping to relieve shortages around the globe.

They are not limited to hospitals. They can work in doctors’ offices, mental health practices, classrooms and more. The sky’s the limit.

4) Flexible Training Options.

Not only has the nursing industry changed, but so has the way in which interested parties can become one. Until recently, training was limited to traditional, brick and mortar schools. That is no longer the case. Many schools, like the The Kansas City Nursing School system, have a flexible arrangement which allows students to take online classes as part of their training. Some degree programs are 100% online.

So, if you are thinking about becoming a nurse, there is no better time than the present. The Kansas City Nursing School system provides a high quality education to its students to ensure that they are not just qualified but able to thrive in a career field where their critical skills have a direct impact upon others.

They don’t just want smart nurses, either. They aim to produce consummate professionals who are compassionate towards the sick and vulnerable. Having compassion on those who need their help is a hallmark that sets them apart and cannot be learned in a book. They take pride that the nurses they trained serve in all 50 states and many countries around the globe. Will you be next?