(BPT) - As time and technology reshape the workforce, most professionals are not in the position to stick with one career until retirement. Nursing offers relevant, future-focused opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels, from those re-entering the workforce or making a career change, to registered nurses pursuing further education. Below, you’ll find four reasons students are pursuing licensure or a degree in nursing (from RN to BSN and beyond), shared by Dr. Bonnie Stegman of Maryville University.

1. Satisfaction

If you are interested in making a direct impact on the lives of individuals and communities, consider nursing. It’s a rewarding career, according to nurses themselves. Nurses provide personal contact and engagement with patients, which has only become more important in today’s often-hectic healthcare environment. At the same time, nursing is an exciting and expanding field with new areas of focus. You have more options than ever to pursue your interests and work at the cutting edge of healthcare.

2. Wide-ranging opportunities

Nursing often is associated with foundational healthcare settings such as primary care practices, hospitals or nursing homes. However, nursing offers many paths to develop the track that’s right for you. Specialties include areas relevant to our aging population, such as gerontology (focused on elderly patients) and genetics (patients with or at risk of hereditary diseases). You also can specialize in public health, working in nonprofit organizations, community health centers or governmental agencies. And you can build on your experience caring for patients and transition into other areas, serving as an administrator or educator, for example.

3. Flexibility

The opportunities available within nursing let you pick what best fits your needs and preferences. For example, if family responsibilities mean you need to keep a 9-to-5, Monday-Friday schedule, some primary care or specialty practices can accommodate that. Through telehealth, you can provide patient care and education remotely, potentially creating opportunities across geographic areas and time zones. If you’re open to moving around, you might find work as a traveling nurse to be an interesting — and usually well paid — choice. This flexibility means you can adapt and shift your focus as you move through stages and phases of life.

4. Demand and compensation

Nurses are in high demand nationwide, a trend that shows no sign of slowing. That means you can expect competitive salaries and benefits. You’ll find that employers are getting creative in how they recruit and incentivize new hires. Mercy Children’s Hospital in St. Louis recently tested a seasonal staffing option, where nurses could opt to work a full-time schedule from September to June, then take time off in the summer while retaining their benefits — and a guaranteed job in the fall. Such initiatives represent a valuable offering for anyone with childcare considerations. Other employers are providing financial incentives such as signing bonuses and tuition reimbursement.

Make it happen

Once you decide to pursue your licensure or earn a nursing degree, you have a variety of options. It starts with finding a program that offers a realistic path for your existing schedule and responsibilities.

Online programs typically are designed for flexibility. The online nursing offerings at Maryville University include an RN to BSN program with multiple start dates throughout the year that can be completed 100% online to help students balance work and school. You also can find flexible options in on-campus programs. In addition to programs for full-time and transfer students, Maryville’s on-campus pre-licensure nursing options include a part-time evening and weekend program designed for working adults.

As our population ages, career options in healthcare are predicted to expand. Nursing is a resilient and wide-ranging career field with significant opportunities, now and in the future.

With more people going to school than ever before, studying at home is becoming more and more important on a daily basis. Three things that can aid studying at home include paying attention to appropriate lighting, planning ahead and blocking your time.

Create the Ideal Environment

Lighting is the easiest and most effective way to create an environment conducive to learning. Appropriate lights are adequately bright, steady and a single color. For example, a lava lamp is not likely to provide enough light and changes colors regularly, distracting the reader. Instead, someone trying to study should position themselves close to a light source that provides enough light to comfortably see by but is not overwhelming. iTeach recommends natural light from a window or an adjustable bulb.

Plan Your Study Sessions

According to Mind Tools, knowing where and when you are going to study helps in several ways. First, it allows you to let other people know you are studying. If people know you are going to study, they will be less likely to distract you and might even cheer you on. Second, you can plan to visit a quiet or peaceful place for studying. This quiet area will help create focus by limiting distractions. Finally, if you make a plan to study, you are more likely to do it because you put effort into making the plan and do not want to waste that planned time.

Block Your Time Effectively

There are many different ways of blocking your time based on how long your attention span is. Develop Good Habits recommends the Pomodoro method, this method suggests that the user to focus for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break and then return to the task at hand for another 25 minutes. Alternatively, someone using the time block method can work on a task for 90 minutes, with 20-minute breaks in between. Both of these methods can be set up with a simple timer, although there are software applications specifically designed for the Pomodoro method.

Time blocking, planning ahead and using appropriate lighting are all vital parts of studying well. If you can time block effectively, you can use your study time more wisely and focus better. Planning ahead allows a person to calculate exactly how much time they will need, reducing lost study time. Using an appropriate light source is vital because it can help you to stay alert and read longer without eye strain, influencing how much you are able to study.

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