Why Become a Nurse in Georgia?
America’s decades-long nursing shortage presents many challenges, but it’s great news for anyone considering a rewarding career in nursing. Across the country, nurses are in high demand, and that’s not changing any time soon.
In Georgia, it’s projected that the state will need an additional 13,510 registered nurses by 2026 to keep up with the demands of a rapidly growing population — that’s a little more than 5,000 new nurses each year. In fact, demand for nurses is so great in Georgia that Forbes recently listed Atlanta as one of 15 great cities for nurses, citing demand and pay as key factors in their decision.
The nursing shortage does, however, have a silver lining for nurses: healthcare providers around the country are increasingly turning to signing bonuses, tuition reimbursements, and other incentives to attract qualified nurses, making right now a very smart time to pursue a career in nursing.
A Leader in Nursing Education for More than 100 Years
As the oldest nursing school in Georgia, Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing has educated more than 8,250 nurses over the years. Our Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) and BSN Transfer tracks continue this tradition of educating practice-ready nurses who are ready to take on the biggest challenges facing healthcare today.
Our experienced nursing faculty and clinical instructors are dedicated to developing ethical, caring, and compassionate nurses who are ready to become the next generation of nurse leaders. Plus, with clinical rotations at various Atlanta healthcare facilities, you’ll gain firsthand experience and insight into the health needs facing Georgians.
Is Nursing Right for You?
Before joining America’s most trusted profession, you should consider whether nursing is a good career fit for you. Here are six essential traits of great nurses:
- Compassionate — Nursing is an act of heart. It takes hard work, dedication, and compassion for others. Not only will compassion remind you why chose nursing on the tough days, there’s a growing body of evidence linking compassionate care to improved patient outcomes.
- Patience — Make no mistake, nursing has its frustrating moments, making patience not only a virtue, but a requirement of the job.
- Great Communication Skills — The ability to communicate clearly and effective is essential in nursing. As a nurse, you’ll communicate critical details of a patient’s care and situation to doctors and other healthcare providers, educate patients and their families on treatments, and work with people in various healthcare roles.
- Calm Under Pressure — In the hospital, there’s no telling what will happen next. A patient’s condition can change rapidly, multiple patients could be admitted at the same time, etc. It is essential that you remain calm and collected when the unexpected happens.
- Attentive to Details — In critical care situations, every detail matters. Nurses, like doctors, must be aware of even the slightest changes in a patient’s condition and be meticulous in documenting information.
- Non-Judgmental — Healthcare providers have an obligation to treat all patients with respect and dignity, regardless of their beliefs or what mistakes they’ve made.
Is nursing right for you? Give us a call to learn about next steps for becoming a nurse.