Why Become a Nurse in New Jersey?

The United States is facing a nursing shortage and has been for quite some time. The media, healthcare providers, and legislators have been talking about the deficit of nurses for years, and while it’s getting better in some places, this is not the case everywhere. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that by 2035, New Jersey will have a nursing shortage of 11,470 registered nurses.

Felician ABSN student writing in notebook

While the nursing shortage has created a high demand for skilled nurses, there are many other reasons to pursue a nursing career. So, why become a nurse? Nursing is a rewarding career full of opportunities for advancement, while allowing you to make a tangible, meaningful impact on people’s lives. Below are a few reasons why becoming a nurse may be right for you:

  • Nurses have high-earning potential. In New Jersey, the annual median wage for registered nurses is $98,090, higher than the national average, according to CareerOneStop.
  • Nursing’s career outlook is promising. According to the BLS, registered nursing is expected to grow 6% nationally and 9% in New Jersey by 2030 (CareerOneStop).
  • There is significant opportunity for career advancement and specialization in nursing, so you can develop your skills and find the specialty you enjoy most.
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Developing Nurses for the 21st Century

Nurses play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare. As doctors, faced with increased demands on their time, are able to devote less of their attention to individual patients, nurses find themselves picking up the slack. The result is that nurses are taking on more leadership roles, as well as playing the increasingly important role of patient advocate.

Felician University is committed to producing nurses who are prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing healthcare landscape and to provide exceptional patient care. With our Accelerated BSN program, you’ll learn from experienced nursing faculty who are devoted to helping you become the best nurse you can be and develop a thorough understanding of the impact of societal issues and vulnerable populations on our health system.

Felician nursing student using blood pressure cuff on sim manikin
nursing lab with hospital beds and sim manikins

Is Nursing Right for You?

Nursing is more than just a career, and that’s why it takes a special kind of person. Here are five traits you need to be a great nurse:

  • Compassion — You may have heard it before, but nursing is an act of the heart. Seeing people during the best and worst times of their lives requires tremendous compassion and strength. If you don’t love helping people, the nursing profession will get old fast.
  • Patience — You’ll meet a lot of different people working as a nurse. Some of them (or their family members) will test your patience. They may even question your knowledge. In these cases, it’s important to remember what they’re going through, and to exude patience and calm.
  • Attention to Details — Nursing is a detail-oriented profession if there ever was one. Whether checking vitals, monitoring a patient’s status or carrying out a doctor’s orders, it is critical that you are attentive to details.
  • Calm Under Pressure — Working in the medical profession, anything can happen. A patient’s condition can change in a moment, an emergency room can be calm one minute and hectic the next, etc. As a nurse, you must be able to act (and think) clearly and calmly in even the most stressful situations.
  • Great Communication Skills — As a nurse, you’ll coordinate care with other providers, explain crucial details to patients who may be nervous or even illiterate, and chart critical information. This necessitates clear communication skills.
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Is Nursing for You?

Contact us to find out how you can use your existing college experience to earn a BSN degree in our 16-month Hybrid ABSN program in Parsippany, New Jersey, or our 18-month On-Ground ABSN program in Rutherford, New Jersey.