5 Signs You May Be Meant to Be a Nurse
Nurses are on the front lines of healthcare, combining compassion with clinical skill to make a difference in people’s lives every single day. If you’ve ever wondered whether nursing might be the right path for you, here are five signs that could mean you’d be a great nurse.
1. You’re a helper: people turn to you for help, and you enjoy helping them.
When friends or family face a problem—big or small—do they come to you? Nurses are natural helpers. They have a knack for listening, calming others, and finding solutions. Research consistently shows that empathy is one of the most important traits among nursing students and professionals. In fact, a 2025 study in Healthcare found that empathy strongly correlates with students’ motivation to pursue nursing and their ability to deliver patient-centered care. Nurses are there during some of the most vulnerable moments of a person’s life—offering comfort, understanding, and expertise. Compassion, ethical conduct, and a desire to serve others are universal traits recognized in successful nurses by both patients and professionals. If you find deep meaning in helping others, advocating for them, and making a difference in their wellbeing, nursing could be your perfect fit.
2. You stay cool under pressure.
Healthcare can be fast-paced and unpredictable. From emergencies to complex patient needs, nurses often have to think quickly and stay composed. Multiple studies have shown that emotional resilience and the ability to manage stressors are key predictors of job satisfaction and well-being among nurses. If you’re someone who can stay calm, make decisions, and focus when things get stressful, you may already have one of the most essential qualities of a great nurse.
3. You love learning, and never stop.
Nursing is a field that’s always evolving. New technology, treatments, and best practices mean there’s always something new to learn. A 2023 review in the International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship noted that continuous learning and curiosity are among the top professional values linked to effective nursing leadership and patient outcomes. If you enjoy asking questions, mastering new skills, and growing in your knowledge, you’ll thrive in nursing. Lifelong learners often make the most adaptable and innovative nurses.
4. You want job security and stability.
If you’re hoping for a career that offers both purpose and stability, nursing may be your calling. Few professions provide the kind of job security that nursing does; healthcare is an ever-growing field, and skilled nurses are in demand in every community, from hospitals and clinics to schools and home care settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing employment is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade. This is driven by an aging population and increasing healthcare needs. Becoming a nurse means not only making a difference in people’s lives every day, but also stepping into a career where your skills will always be valued and your future secure.
5. You want a career that makes an impact.
Few professions offer the same level of personal and professional fulfillment as nursing. Whether you’re working in a hospital, community clinic, school, or specialized field, you’ll see the direct results of your work every day. For many nurses, that sense of purpose is what makes the long hours and hard work worthwhile. And research backs this up: nurses consistently rank among the most trusted and satisfied professionals in national surveys, driven by the knowledge that their work truly matters.
Follow your calling.
If these signs resonate with you, it might be time to explore nursing as your next step. At DeSales University, our School of Nursing prepares students to become skilled, compassionate nurses who lead with heart and excellence. From our part-time evening/weekend program, all the way through to our Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, our programs offer a values-based education rooted in the DeSales mission. By providing hands-on learning, strong clinical partnerships, and experts in the field to teach you, you’ll be ready to make an impact from day one.
Learn more about the DeSales Nursing programs.