SDN founder's hand holding a stethoscope

Here’s my confession, nurse friend — growing up, I didn’t have a burning desire or deep calling to be a nurse. 🫣

In fact, I mostly became a nurse accidentally. And I even applied to nursing school on a whim — well, I guess looking back, it was more…on a hunch.

Honestly, it wasn’t even until I was applying to universities that the idea of becoming a nurse even crossed my mind. But I figured if I got accepted, I’d give it a try. Well, lucky for me, I got accepted to the first school I applied to and never looked back.

I was a bedside nurse in general medical-surgical nursing for nearly five years and another 1.5 years in ambulatory care, and they were some of the most stressful, overwhelming, and challenging years of my life. So challenging, I often wondered, “Was nursing the right choice for me?”

Now, I’m working in Quality Management and Patient Safety, which allows me to work from home a majority of the week. I’ve even started my very own website copywriting and design business because of the flexibility of my traditional nursing career. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to create a career that I really freaking love.

But every career has its ups and downs, and nursing is no different. There are days when the stress feels overwhelming and the challenges seem endless. Yet, even in the hardest moments (especially the ones that bring you to your knees), there are countless reasons why I love being a nurse. Because the truth is, nursing is more than just a job — it’s a dynamic, multifaceted career that blends growth, adaptability, and deep human connection in ways few professions can match.

So Here’s What I Love About Being a Nurse

Genuine Relationships With Patients

I know it sounds cheesy, but one of the things I truly love about being a nurse is the chance to form genuine relationships with patients and people. Nursing goes beyond just administering medications or performing procedures — it’s about connecting with the people you care for.

In a fast-paced healthcare setting, it’s not always easy — especially where the patient load, the acuity, and the mounting tasks can make meaningful connections rare. But when you do manage to build that nurse-patient relationship, it’s incredibly rewarding.

Nurses witness and hold space for some of the most vulnerable moments of a person’s life. We care for people at their worst — when they’re scared, in pain, or unsure about their future. And being able to provide not just physical care, but emotional support, is a privilege.

There’s something really profound about being the person a patient looks to for reassurance, guidance, and comfort. It’s in those moments, even amid the chaos, that you realize how deeply impactful your role is.

What I love about being a nurse is knowing that, even in the smallest interactions, we have the power to make a difference. Whether it’s a kind word, a listening ear, or simply being present when a patient needs someone most, these connections leave a lasting mark on both the patient and the nurse. It’s these genuine relationships that make the long hours, the tough days, and the emotional toll of nursing all worthwhile.

As nurses, we see beyond the diagnosis and advocate for the human behind the patient. It’s not just about providing safe, competent care — it’s also about making a lasting, positive impact on someone’s life. These relationships remind me why I chose this profession and why I love being a nurse.

Nurse Besties and Work-Wives

One of the most unexpected and wonderful surprises about nursing? The friendships.

The camaraderie among nurses is something I absolutely love about being a nurse. I never imagined that some of my closest, most meaningful relationships would come from the long, exhausting shifts spent working side by side with my fellow nurses. But those late-night talks, huddled around the nurses' station at 2 a.m., discussing everything from life and love to the frustrations and triumphs of the job, built bonds that have lasted far beyond the hospital walls.

When you’re navigating the demands of patient care, there’s nothing like having colleagues who get it — who understand the stress, the exhaustion, the emotional weight, and, yes, even the occasional absurdity that comes with the job. These are the people who stand with you in the trenches, and that shared experience creates an unshakable bond.

It’s the people I’ve worked alongside who have made some of the toughest shifts manageable, and it’s these same people who have turned this work into something much more meaningful than just a job. I couldn’t have gotten through those challenging years without the incredible support of my nurse besties, and for that, I’m forever grateful.

The friendships you build in nursing are truly one of the best parts of the profession — they remind you that, no matter how hard the day gets, you’re never in it alone.

Flexible Work Schedules

The flexibility nursing offers is another reason I love being a nurse. Unlike many traditional careers, nursing gives you the opportunity to build a schedule that suits your lifestyle. With 24-hour patient care, hospitals and healthcare facilities need nurses around the clock. This means you can choose to work day shifts, night shifts, or a mix of both, depending on what fits your life best. You’re not tied to the standard 9-to-5 grind — but you could totally do that, too, if you wanted.

Using these flexible schedules, you can create a healthy work-life balance, whatever that may look like for you, and it’s one of the best reasons to love being a nurse IMHO. Many nurses work three 12-hour shifts per week, which leaves them with more days off to enjoy their personal lives.

For those who want even more control, per diem positions or part-time roles can offer the ability to pick up shifts when it's convenient. As your life circumstances change, so can your nursing schedule, and that level of flexibility is incredibly hard to come by in other professions.

In a world where burnout is all too common, the flexibility of nursing makes it easier to step back, recharge, and avoid the feeling of impending doom. 😆 It’s one of the reasons so many nurses are able to stay in the field for decades. The career molds to you, not the other way around.

Hellooo, Job Security

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds “employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030” and “about 194,500 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.”

The nursing profession is and always will be in demand. This is especially true as the Baby Boomer generation ages and nurses switch specialties, depart from the profession, or retire. People will always be coping with chronic illnesses and healthcare needs throughout their lifetime.

Nurses are at the forefront of patient care, and that role can’t be replaced or diminished by automation or technology. So even as the healthcare field changes and develops new treatments, nurses will adapt, change, and grow along with it.

So if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that there will always be a need for nurses. I love being a nurse because the job security is unmatched. With an aging population and the ever-growing demand for healthcare, nursing provides stability and assurance in an unpredictable job market.

And as long as your nursing license is active and in good standing, you have the ability to find work anywhere in the country — or even the world — whenever you need it.

Endless Growth Opportunities

What I love about being a nurse is that you’re never boxed in — there are always new opportunities to explore and challenges to rise to.

You can work in an acute care hospital setting, a long-term care facility, a clinic, an office, a school, a prison, at home, at Disneyland, on a cruise ship, start your own business (I may be biased on that one!), and everything in-between (See 100 different nursing specialties here!).

There are plenty of opportunities to work in different specialties without additional education, which is great for the nurse who needs a new environment but isn’t ready to return to school. On the other hand, nurses can choose to continue their education and pursue a graduate or doctoral degree to rise the nursing profession ranks.

The professional development opportunities for nurses are endless and, again, provide job security throughout your career. You may just have to redefine what it means to be a nurse on your own terms. And when you’re ready, I’ll be right here to support you however I can.

Compensation

For the most part, the way healthcare systems manage their funds significantly undervalues the nursing field. However, the nursing profession does get paid well overall if you look at the statistics, which, of course, also depends on where you live and your specialty of choice. And while compensation isn’t the only reason to choose a career or to love being a nurse, it’s worth noting that nursing offers competitive pay.

On average, a nurse’s salary in the U.S. is around $94,480, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $63,720 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $132,680. In contrast, the national average salary for all professional occupations in the U.S. is around $65,470. That’s almost a $30k difference and absolutely something to consider while considering different career paths.

Masters of Adaptability

The nursing field constantly changes depending on new evidence-based practices, medications, treatments, procedures, and skills. Therefore, nurses must become knowledgeable and develop critical thinking skills to adjust to the ever-changing environment effectively.

The skills you learn as a nurse are invaluable. You’ll learn to be creative and resourceful when faced with a new challenge and be willing to take the initiative to find solutions. With each new development, nurses must be ready to learn, grow, and adapt to the new environment.

You can easily apply those same skills to your life outside of nursing, enabling you to become more creative and resilient in your approach to any situation.

With these newly acquired skills, you may even be able to put them to use by starting a small business. You will be able to think outside the box and find innovative solutions while demonstrating the tenacity and drive needed to make your endeavor successful.

A Career You Can Take Anywhere

Nursing isn’t a profession that confines you to one location or even one type of setting — it’s a career that can quite literally take you anywhere in the world. You can shape your career in a way that supports your lifestyle, without sacrificing job stability or growth.

Whether you dream of traveling across the country as a travel nurse, working abroad in international healthcare, or simply exploring different clinical settings close to home, nursing provides the freedom to do it all.

You can choose your specialty, the type of facility you want to work in, and even the state or country you want to live in. And for those who are more adventurous, there are opportunities to work internationally, providing care in underserved communities or for organizations like the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders. It’s a profession that not only allows you to see the world but also to make a meaningful impact wherever you go.

Whether you want to stay close to home or see the world, nursing gives you the freedom to create a career that’s as dynamic and versatile as you are. Ultimately, what I love about being a nurse is that it’s not just a job — it’s a passport to opportunity. 😜

So, Why Do You Love Being a Nurse?

Becoming a nurse isn’t an easy decision, and nursing itself is also far from easy. It’s a career that challenges you, demands long hours, and sometimes pushes you to your limits.

But at the same time, there are so many reasons to love being a nurse. From the relationships with patients to the flexibility, job security, and endless growth opportunities, nursing provides a unique balance of personal fulfillment and professional reward.

For me, nursing was a happy accident that turned into a lifelong passion. Even when the days are tough and the grief feels all consuming, I can always find reasons to love being a nurse. It has given me purpose, community, and a career I’m really freaking proud of.

At the end of the day, your nursing career is what you make of it, and the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re considering nursing as a career or you’ve been in the field for years, take a moment to reflect on what you love about being a nurse — it might just remind you why this profession is so special.