Like many people, you may worry that your career could leave you feeling unchallenged, uninspired or dissatisfied at the end of the day. That’s not something most nurses worry about.

As a nurse, the impact you have on other people’s health and wellbeing is huge. It can be instant, if you work in critical or emergency care, or it may take longer, for example helping someone with a learning disability gain a new life skill. Either way, witnessing that positive change in someone is very rewarding. 

People lose so much when they suffer from mental illness. It’s incredibly satisfying to help someone get their life back.

Chris Dzikiti, modern matron. Read Chris’s full story

You will make a difference to patients and their families, and your own colleagues. Your working life might mean:

  • promoting a better, more healthy lifestyle
  • making critical interventions to save lives
  • helping patients who have been seriously ill to recover to the fullest possible extent
  • providing high quality care for someone at the end of their life
  • training colleagues to increase their confidence in handling challenging situations
  • leading a team of nurses and other healthcare professionals
  • managing an exciting research project.

Most of all, I enjoy coming home knowing that I’ve done something worthwhile and made a positive impact on someone’s life.

Rachel Hughes, relief community nurse. Read Rachel’s full story